School raises more than £2000 for ShelterBox
Students at a North Cornish school raise thousands of pounds for the international disaster relief charity ShelterBox.
Pupils at Sir James Smith School in Camelford have been running a special after-school club since September 2023 to raise funds and awareness about the charity.
The Truro-based charity specialises in emergency shelter, supporting people affected by disaster and conflict across the world.
As well as crucial shelter aid it also supports affected communities with training, cash assistance, and essential items like water filters, mosquito nets, and solar lights.
The school children meet once a fortnight after lessons to discuss issues like disasters, the climate crisis and the charity’s work around the world.
Every disaster and conflict is different. As such, ShelterBox aims to ‘tailor’ its’ aid to each response to try to ensure that people get the support they need.
In Gaza, the charity’s focus is emergency shelter like tents and tarpaulins, and blankets, water carriers and kitchen sets.
‘The enthusiasm for the club has grown year on year where students are actively demonstrating each of our school’s core values: connected, creative and committed,’ says Gabi Zankl who runs the club and is the school’s Head of Geography.
ShelterBox and Help Tchad are supporting people displaced by the conflict in Sudan. Image provided by ShelterBox.
Learning how charities ‘respond to disasters on a global scale’
‘Students have connected to ShelterBox through learned experiences in the Geography curriculum when they study natural hazards and how charities respond to disasters on a global scale.’
‘Students at the club are driven by the fact they want to support people in other countries who are rebuilding their communities and therefore, students continue to use their creativity to come up with the next fundraising idea.’
The school, which has held non-uniform days and cake sales to raise funds, has a ShelterBox display in its library and has invited guest speakers from the charity to talk at assemblies.
At a recent visit and cheque presentation at the school, ShelterBox volunteer Ros McLaughlin was able to thank the children and school community for their support.
‘Under Gabi Zankl’s inspired leadership, the after-school club has built extraordinary momentum with pupils planning successive events to help communities affected by conflict or disaster,’ explains John Stanbury, Community Fundraising Assistant at ShelterBox.
‘The ShelterBox aid items on display in the school library are representative of how these opportunities for learning and empathy extend through the school. We’re extremely thankful to everyone involved.’
The group already has plans to fundraise further in 2025, with a quiz night in the spring and a film night in the summer. They’re also planning a rowing event with the use of the school’s latest gym equipment.
As well as the Middle East, ShelterBox is supporting people affected by the conflict in Sudan.
The charity has supported people fleeing the conflict with items like tarpaulins and rope to help with the construction of temporary shelters, as well as solar lights, mosquito nets, and blankets.
ShelterBox tarpaulins and fixings contributes to the construction of emergency shelters for refugees. The frame and roof are provided by UNHCR. Image provided by ShelterBox.