The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Pupils’ inspirational messages
With the media concentration on all matters Brexit, it is all too easy to forget the continuing plight of the millions of people affected by the recent cyclone in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Children in Year 6 at Thorndown School in St Ives have spent approximately 10 weeks learning about natural disasters, how they impact our Earth and people living in the places affected. They have been fundraising for ShelterBox and invited me to their school to tell them more about the work of this charity. The children have already raised £150 with a cake sale and donated a blanket to be displayed in the visitor centre in Cornwall. Each child has contributed to the mosaic of brightly coloured pictures and messages of hope stitched together
to form this blanket - messages such as “Stay strong”, “Be positive”, “The light will shine through again”, “You’re special wherever you are” and “It’s OK to be afraid – you’re safe now”. We could all learn from the inspiration expressed in those messages.
The children sat spellbound as they saw pictures of the effect of flooding, and the relief on the faces of the people who have received vital aid. ShelterBox are sending out Shelterkits, water filters and mosquito nets. Cholera from drinking contaminated water and malaria from mosquito bites are an ever present threat. The children also saw firsthand the iconic big green ShelterBox containing a tent to house a whole family, blankets, tools and other household items (find out more at www.shelterbox.org).
Cyclone Idai made landfall on 14 March, with winds of over 100mph and heavy rains. Downpours affected the region for weeks, causing severe floods. It is estimated that almost 2 million people have been affected and at least 125,000 forced from their homes in Malawi alone. There are many tales of loss as well as some amazing survival stories. As the rains came on the eve of the annual harvest, crops are lost and starvation awaits – a disaster of unbelievable proportions.
In 2018 alone, ShelterBox helped over 210,000 people. More than 30,000 families were supported with shelter aid and 12,000 additionally supplied with essential household items. ShelterBox originally was the millennium project of a Rotarian down in Cornwall. Rotary is proud to be a partner of this international aid organisation today and a friend of those very special children at Thorndown school.