Alan Jones, a member of Hinckley Ambion Rotary and the District 1070 ambassador for Shelterbox, has been to Falcons Primary School three times to demonstrate and talk about the charity’s life-saving activities in areas hit by natural and man-made disasters.
Within days of Typhoon Idai which hit Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and thousands more missing, the teachers, children and parents of Year 3 had decided to raise enough money for two Shelterboxes.
Each Shelterbox contains a large family-size tent and enough hardware to enable a family to re-establish a home. The Shelterbox does not include food, because they are put into storage until they are needed. However, Ida was so devastating that more boxes were needed immediately. Each Shelterbox costs £590, so the ambitious Year 3 had pledged to raise £1,180.
They held sales of sweets and cupcakes along with a film show during the week in which the Sikh-ethos school was to hold its Vaisakhi assembly. Generous adults pitched in with donations too.
Today, April 12 2019, the school announced that Year 3 had raised £930.
Novus Rotary president Jason Chauhan said: “ Falcons Primary School, particularly Year 3, have demonstrated great enthusiasm and immense spirit. We would like to thank and congratulate them on their commendable achievement — and it is a privilege for us to be associated with this generous, ethical and ambitious school.”
This Year 3 project has been named their Sewa project. Sewa is the Punjabi word for service, which lies at the heart of everything Rotary does and is one of the key principles of Sikhism.
A delighted Alan Jones said: “This is wonderful news. I am so grateful to the school who have been very helpful every time I have been there.”
He wrote to headteacher Jasbir Mann: “I can scarcely believe that Falcons School has once again supported Shelter Box at a time of need, I do appreciate everything you and your school do for us. Would you please give a big Thank You to pupils and parents for all their support of Shelter Box”
If you want to donate to Shelterbox to help the school ‘over the finishing line’ at this time of crisis in Africa, you can do so through the newly-registered Rotary Club of Leicester Novus charity which can claim Gift Aid on your behalf if you pay income tax and the Novus charity can pass on up to 25 per cent extra. For details please e-mail rotaryclubofleicesternovus@gmail.com
Last edited: 2050 12.04.2019
