Kids helping kids
The Kids' Desk Drive
The Kids' Desk Drive is an initiative of SchoolAid, in association with Australia for UNHCR (The UN's Refugee Agency), to empower students from across Australia to reach out and unite to make a difference in the lives of Congolese children while experiencing and learning about the power of giving.
Imagine if you had been driven from your home, without knowing if it would ever be safe to return.
Our aim is to give thousands of refugee children the chance to move beyond a life of poverty and disadvantage. After fleeing the 10 Year Civil War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), these children have been living in refugee camps in Tanzania. But now that stability and peace are returning to the region, they are finally able to go to school in their own country. More than 33,000 children are expected to return home to the province of South Kivu this year, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to begin their education.
However, the schools are in desperate need of rehabilitation and nearly all require desks and other school equipment. UNHCR is currently rehabilitating schools in the South Kivu region and over the next five months, plans to refurbish all 110 classrooms. At this time, 5,000 desks, called 'table bancs' (combined desk/chair), will urgently be needed to accommodate the children and provide them with a proper environment for learning.
Imagine giving these refugee children the life-long gift of education and the chance for a better future.
To get involved, register your school or class here, and start planning and organising your fundraising activities. Together we can make a difference as one united school community.
Downloads
- Schools' release (PDF)
- SchoolAid fact sheet (PDF)
- The Kids' Desk Drive action ideas (DOC)
- Map of schools in the Kivu region, DRC (c/o OCHA and Australia for UNHCR) (JPG)
- Map of UNHCR presence in DRC (PDF)
- The Kids' Desk Drive school poster (DOC)
- The Kids' Desk Drive FAQs (PDF)
- UNHCR & 'Australia for UNHCR' FAQs & Educational Information (PDF)
- Newsletter and parents' letter template (DOC)
Send a "Message in a Desk"
You can also create a "Message in a Desk" - providing words of hope, support and friendship for the Congolese students.
Your messages will be delivered with the new desks that are supplied from the funds raised through the "Kids' Desk Drive".
Refer to the Downloads area for a template that you may find useful. We would also encourage you to include drawings, pictures or paintings from your students.
Imagine if you had been driven from your home, without knowing if it would ever be safe to return.
Our aim is to give thousands of refugee children the chance to move beyond a life of poverty and disadvantage. After fleeing the 10 Year Civil War in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), these children have been living in refugee camps in Tanzania. But now that stability and peace are returning to the region, they are finally able to go to school in their own country. More than 33,000 children are expected to return home to the province of South Kivu this year, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to begin their education.
However, the schools are in desperate need of rehabilitation and nearly all require desks and other school equipment. UNHCR is currently rehabilitating schools in the South Kivu region and over the next five months, plans to refurbish all 110 classrooms. At this time, 5,000 desks, called 'table bancs' (combined desk/chair), will urgently be needed to accommodate the children and provide them with a proper environment for learning.
Imagine giving these refugee children the life-long gift of education and the chance for a better future.
To get involved, register your school or class here, and start planning and organising your fundraising activities. Together we can make a difference as one united school community.
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