Six thousand Euros is enough to provide 30,000 hungry children with a school meal. The New School Rome raised enough money to do exactly that, and today, they donated it to “Students Helping Haiti.”
It was a day of recognition for young people fighting hunger. After five students from The New School presented WFP with a check, 14-year-old John Beck was awarded the grand prize for the Under-18 category of the “hunger bytes!” contest. John’s video, “Dinner is Served,” is a call for action against hunger and challenges people to rethink the concept of a full meal.
The six student guests were in grades five through eight, and they proved
age doesn’t matter when it comes to making a difference. The New School contributed the second-highest donation to “Students Helping Haiti,” behind Auburn University in Alabama, USA, a university with an enrolment of about 24,000 students. John’s viral video has already drawn more than 5,000 views on YouTube.
Nearly two months after the earthquake in Haiti, the public’s attention has drifted from the island’s situation to more current events. The damage may not be fresh, but the emergency is not over. WFP will remain in Haiti to provide emergency relief until the end of 2010, and support and public awareness remains crucial to the operation’s success.
WFP continues to seek young people like John and the students from The New School to spread the word about hunger issues. Hundreds of students around the world have proven their generation’s passion and impacted the lives of strangers.
The Tsukuba International School in Japan sold beans from the school garden to raise money. A money collection at the American School of Yaounde totalled $1,000 for Haiti. Bake sales, dress-theme days, and spare change have raised thousands more dollars at several other schools, bringing the total funds from “Students Helping Haiti” to $43,000.
It’s never too late to get involved. Drop us a line and become a part of the progress.
Photos: (top) Antonio Macera, a sixth grader from The New School Rome, presents Deputy Executive Director Amir Abdulla with a €6,000 donation for "Students Helping Haiti." (bottom) Fourteen-year-old John Beck shakes hands with Ertharin Cousin, United Nations ambassador to Rome-based agencies, after he receives his hunger bytes! prize.
Photos: Giulio d'Adamo/WFP
When a disaster strikes, hunger is often the first emergency. WFP is mobilising critical emergency supplies to bring urgently needed food to the people of Haiti affected by the devastating earthquake.
GET INVOLVED. YOUR SCHOOL CAN HELP.
By dropping us a line here - you can register your school or university with "Students Helping Haiti". All you need to do is give us the name of your institution, and permission to use your logo on the page below. From there, its simple - you will be able to select your institution from the drop-down menu on the donation page, and make as many donations as needed as the money you raise comes in. We'll be able to keep a total for each institution.
Your can also put banners on your school or university web site, and let your communities know what you are doing, and why. The banners are available here
The student-dedicated donation page is here: http://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti-students
Keep an eye on our Haiti update pages for more information on the situation in Haiti, and what WFP is doing to help.
Together, we can make a difference - be part of the solution.
Heartfelt thanks to the schools below - and if you haven't signed up - what are you waiting for?
Click here to find out what schools have done so far - and let us know what your school has done!
Images and stories can be sent to us here
Staying informed about current events and social issues is an educational necessity. Teach and learn about the hunger crisis in Haiti by promoting students’ interest in current events and integrating them into the curriculum.
"Crisis Calculations - Haiti" incorporates arithmetic into the information about the earthquake and its aftermath.
"Where in the World - Haiti" combines geography, social studies, and writing exercises while encouraging students' interest in current events and social issues.
Is there a tax-deductible option for donating?
Yes. If you’re in the U.S., you can donate through our tax-deductible form on the Friends of WFP web site. If you donate through this form, please send us an e-mail update so we can track and publicise your success!
Where does my money go?
Your money goes directly to WFP’s Haiti operations.
Do I have to wait and make one big donation?
No. Once you’ve signed up, you can make as many donations as you want. Just go through the same process by selecting your institution’s name on the drop-down menu on the donation page.
Can my parents donate, too?
Yes. Donating in the name of a school is not limited to current students. Parents, alumni, and friends can donate by following the same steps on the donation page.
What if I don’t want to donate online?
You can donate by a bank transfer using the details at this page. Please remember to add “for Students helping Haiti” into the comments on your transactions and send us an e-mail notifying us of your donation.
Don't see your question? Send us an e-mail and we'll do our best to help.
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