STUDENTS have rallied to the cause after hearing that a classmate’s family had been hit by the typhoon that devastated the Philippines.
Hundreds of essential items, including food and toiletries, were collected in just a week after Carmel College students witnessed the scale of the damage left by Typhoon Haiyan.
Fifteen-year-old Lisa Stokes was born in the Philippines and has family in the country.
“We are used to typhoons but this one was very bad,” she said. “I was very worried about my family and all the people there and it made me very upset. But I also feel incredibly proud that my school has responded so readily.”
The supplies will be part of the global charitable relief effort currently helping millions of people who have lost everything in the storm.
Head boy Tom Jackson said: “Ironically, in geography, we have been studying weather patterns and the impact storms have on lives. But this really brought it close to home and we were very keen to help.”
Head of school Mike Shorten added: “Students did respond really well. They instantly understood the complexity of the situation and showed real empathy with the people of the Philippines by wanting to do something to help.”
