By JESSE GRAHAM
DIXONS Creek Primary School students have pulled up their socks (and jeans) for a season-long fund-raiser to help with the relief effort in Nepal.
Every Friday from late May to the end of August, students at the school have been wearing jeans and donating a gold coin towards the UNICEF Nepal Earthquake Children’s Appeal.
Principal Sharon Walker said as of Friday 14 August, students had raised $400 on their own.
She said staff at the school wanted to chip in to help the earthquake recovery, as the natural disaster had parallels in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, which school families remembered all too well.
“In 2009, our community was devastated and these children lost friends and homes,” Ms Walker said.
“So they do understand, and that’s why we were really keen (to donate).”
The long duration of the fund-raiser was a reminder for people not to forget those impacted by disasters such as the earthquake, according to Ms Walker, who said the issue could fall off the radar.
“Unfortunately, this is why we wanted to do it over the winter months – people forget,” she said.
“You might have a week where it’s in the news, and people forget – we want to show that we don’t forget.
The message, she said, was simple – “We’re not going to forget you.”
“I think it’s really important that communities show compassion, and that’s what we’re trying to show our kids – that we have empathy. Empathy is really important,” Ms Walker said.
With contributions from the staff, Ms Walker said she was expecting about $700 to be raised for the appeal.
For more information on the appeal, visit www.unicef.org.au/appeals/nepal-earthquake-children-s-appeal.
