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Messages of Hope (Burma Cyclone and China Earthquake, May 2008) |
School Aid helps Australian school students respond directly and compassionately to tragic events around the world that affect other children and their families.
In response to the recent tragic events of both the Burma Cyclone and China Earthquake, School Aid launched a Messages of Hope initiative to enable schools to send messages of support, solidarity and condolence to the children and families whose lives have been upturned.
As well as passing on these messages to survivors of these tragedies, School Aid created a special Messages of Hope gallery page to help Australian school students share their responses to these tragedies.
In Burma, over 2 million people were left homeless, and many hundreds of thousands of children killed or left very vulnerable by the cyclone. This area was one of the biggest rice-producing areas in Asia and many crops were wiped out. Limited access for aid to reach the area made humanitarian assistance very difficult.
Devastated Irrawaddy Delta region (Photo: AFP) |
The storm tore through rice farms in the Irrawaddy Delta and devastated Yangon, the country's chief port and former capital (Photo: Khin Maung Wia/AFP/Getty |
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| In China, a 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Sichuan Province in South Western China devastating over 7000 schools. The situation was made even more horrific as it happened on a school morning when students were in class. |
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Search parties comb the rubble at Juyuan Middle School, in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan |
Rescue teams work through the night with mechanical diggers and their bare hands to find survivors |
Cyclone Larry (Innisfail, North Queensland, Australia, 2006) |
The School Aid Trust worked in conjunction with the Queensland Department of Education and the Arts to raise $170,000 to help schools in Far North Queensland that were affected by Cyclone Larry. The cyclone ripped the heart out of many communities and their education infrastructure, and a big task of rebuilding was left in its wake.
Many schools expressed a desire to help their colleagues in the north. Working closely with school leaders in the affected area, a list of needed items was compiled. These items formed the focus of donations raised by Australian students through School Aid.
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Rebuilding School after Tsunami (Aceh, Indonesia, 2004) |
On December 26, 2004, a tsunami devastated the island of Aceh, killing more than 240,000 people and destroying homes, schools and communities.
After the tsunami, 1551 schools (27% of schools) were damaged or destroyed and 2,237 teachers were missing or dead. A massive 38,644 students were missing or dead - 11% of the total student population in Aceh.
School Aid responded by bringing together hundreds of Australian schools in a community of support and solidarity for Aceh children, raising $263,000. In a partnership with Plan International, the Lambaro Neujid School was built out of the money raised by Australian school students for the children of Aceh. The school includes a garden where children grow vegetables and learn about health and nutrition, as well as a child club, where children learn about their rights and responsibilities in their community.
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Beslan Friendship Park (Russia, 2004) |
The horrendous siege at a school in Beslan in early September 2004, left 326 people dead, half of whom were children, and a community destroyed by the loss of so many young lives. Australian students opened their hearts in a national effort to bring hope to the survivors. An all-schools appeal for donations of funds and messages resulted in $463,000 being raised, along with 6,000 messages of hope and condolence to the community in Beslan.
In a partnership with World Vision, School Aid was able to pass on all the messages of hope from Australian kids to kids of Beslan, and also to reconstruct and revitalise the town's central park. The area is now a vibrant place for community and local kids to exercise, play, meet others and just hang out. Following a competition for local children to name the park, "Friendship Park" was chosen to symbolise the support Beslan received from Australian students!
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Here are some letters sent from Aussie kids to Beslan kids:
"Hello, I have watched on the news what is happening in Russia to the children, parents, families, friends and teachers. It is all a real shock and I send my condolences, love and hope. In Australia we have been lucky enough to have never experienced something so tragic and sadly so real for the people in Russia. I am only 15 years old, and I know I could not imagine the pain that everyone involved in the massacre must be feeling right now, but do not feel alone and helpless, because there will always be people out there wanting to help. I will inform my school and friends about this website and send messages of hope and money to help restore the school and the victims' lives. With love, Courtney."
Courtney, 15yrs, Queensland
"Sending my best wishes to the Beslan community. I find it difficult to comprehend the magnitude of the situation you, as a community, find yourself in. I felt the greatest sorrow upon hearing of this tragedy. Please know that my thoughts are with you. I may be just one person, but I can guarantee you that there are so many people who feel for you and pray for you everyday. Your loved ones have not left you forever; they will be in your hearts for as long as you love them. I wish you all the happiness this world can give in the future."
Jennifer, 12yrs, ACT
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"My family and I were so upset to hear of the tragedy that has happened to your friends and their families. We do not believe in any particular religion, but believe in the good faith of human kind and are dismayed that people can be so heartless towards others, especially children. We feel helpless that we cannot embrace your sadness personally, but as a family we feel sympathy for your plight. Please accept these heartfelt messages from afar, and rest assured that there are still people in the world who value human life and who would happily open their home, and their hearts, to people in need."
James , 13yrs, Victoria
"I feel very sad for everyone in Russia. I'm sending my love to you. You are all very brave and strong for getting through all of those terrible bombings and more. God is always with you and so is everyone else in the world. Don't give up hope, keep trying. Thinking of you always."
Amelia, 9yrs, NSW
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Indigenous Youth Literacy (Northern Territory, 2003) |
School Aid partnered with the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) to assist with the needs of Australian Indigenous young people in the Northern Territory. FHF asked School Aid to help with a project that would work on improving the literacy levels of the Jawoyn people in the Katherine Region.
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Bakhita Youth Centre (East Timor, 1999)
School Aid partnered with Leeuwin Care to fund the construction of the Bakhita Youth Centre, located 3 hours south of Dili. The Centre was later to be renamed "Children of Australia Building" and serviced a population of 30,000 people.
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