Sprowston High School sends 120 boxes of aid to Syrian refugees in Greece

Sprowston Community High School students and staff send aid boxes to Syria.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

Sprowston High's campaign was prompted by photos of the body of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy, on a Turkish beach.

Pupils had initially hoped to raise enough money to send 60 boxes to the Greek islands, but when shipping company DHL offered to deliver the eventual 120 boxes for free, they were also able to donate more than £1,600 to Save the Children's Syria Crisis Appeal.

The school held assemblies about the refugee crisis for each year group, and pupils discussed how they could help in their form groups.

Some pupils led a fundraising drive, while a letter asked parents for donations, and some pupils came in before school and at lunch times to pack them into boxes.

Deputy headteacher Helen Watts said they wanted the aid to go to refugees in Greece, rather than Calais, because there were more children there, and many donations were shoe boxes containing presents, letters and essential items for young people.

Deputy head girl Chloe Edwards, 16, who organised a sweet sale which raised £120, said: 'I think it's important because if it was me in that situation, I would want the rest of the world to come together to help me and the people I love. It gives us a sense of pride to know that we have done something to help.'

Arletta Bisago and Isobel Adcock, both 14, helped pack donations such as clothes and sleeping bags every morning and lunch time for two weeks.

Isobel said: 'I think it's incredible how many people helped. It just shows that we are one big community. Everyone brought in so much.'

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