ABU DHabi // An Emirati pupil at Raha International School came up with the idea that raised almost Dh6,000 for schoolchildren in the Philippines
Mohammed Al Suwaidi worked hard to organise a flea market selling second-hand items such as clothes, books, DVDs and computer games after Michael Manlogon spoke to the class about his charity projects in the Philippines.
“He really pushed the idea forward,” said teacher Sarah Thomas. “Mohammed was a real leader of the project and was really engaged in it.”
Another pupil, Noor Al Khaouli, from Jordan, then had the idea to sell items made from recycled materials at the market.
Pupils made jewellery stands, photo albums, lava lamps, musical boxes, model aeroplanes, bags made from recycled magazines and iPhone covers.
“Michael’s talk made us realise that we take so many things in our school for granted, while these kids just wish they had proper chairs to sit on,” Noor said. “We’re not really aware of how lucky we are.”
“The market was so successful that all 120 of the design class’s recycled products were sold,” Mrs Thomas said. “Some kids were natural salesmen. One boy spontaneously organised a silent auction on the video games.”
Mrs Thomas’s class had been expecting to raise about Dh3,000. They made almost twice that, Dh5,800, which was enough to send school supplies not only to Perez Central School, but to another school in Perez, Quezon.
The money was sent in March, the end of the school year in the Philippines. That gave enough time for teachers to order supplies so each child was able to start their school year this week with a special parcel waiting for them.
Inside were bags, umbrellas, pens, paper and books – enough to last them for the whole year.
Mr Manlogon also took the items left over from the flea market and 250 library books donated by the school.
He was in the Philippines with the children to see their smiles when they opened the parcels, and sent photographs back to Mrs Thomas along with a special thank-you message from the pupils to their benefactors in Abu Dhabi.
“They were overwhelmed,” Mr Manlogon said. “The whole community was so touched with the supplies they received.
“It’s a big help for the parents that instead of having to buy supplies for their children, they will just buy food for the family.”
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