Uni supports Mirin’s backpack project Teen raises cash for Mary’s Meals school initiative
The fundraising efforts of a Paisley teenager have been given a boost by staff at Paisley’s university.
Mi rin Thomson, 15, is undertaking the volunteering section of her Duke of Edinburgh Award through her Girls’ Brigade Company, First Houston, which is currently supporting the Mary’s Meals’ Backpack Project.
The project sends filled backpacks to children who do not have basic education supplies such as pens, notebooks or colouring pencils.
Staff at UWS have provided a range of items to Mirin and her Girls’ Brigade company – greatly helping the drive to stuff the backpacks full of equipment.
Mirin’s mum, Jacqueline, works at UWS and once colleagues found out about Mirin’s charity efforts they were delighted to help.
Jacqueline, who is the university’s insurance and risk officer, said: “I asked colleagues if they had any items that they could donate to Mirin’s backpack collection and the response I received was fantastic.
“Colleagues have been so generous and both Mirin and I are so grateful.”
Mirin, who is in S3 at Gryffe High School, expressed her gratitude to the university with the backpack project, which helps enable children to attend school, gain an education and aims to allow them to escape from poverty as they grow up.
She said: “I would like to thank everyone at UWS for their generosity – their support has been brilliant.”
Professor Craig Mahoney, principal and vice- chancellor of UWS, said: “The way in which colleagues from across the university have come together to support Mirin’s charity drive has been tremendous, and reflects the university’s ethos of supporting staff, students and members of the community. The work Mirin is doing is great and we all wish her well in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.”
I would like to thank everyone at UWS for their generosity Mirin Thomson