BIG-HEARTED children at one of the kingdom’s leading British-curriculum private schools are brushing up on their good deeds this holy month by supporting the GDN #HelpThem Ramadan community campaign … with a unique gesture.
The British School of Bahrain (BSB), inspired by a successful community initiative staged by our sister newspaper GulfWeekly seven years ago, aim to donate thousands of toothbrushes to the survivors of the recent Syrian and Turkish earthquakes who lost all their belongings, including much-needed items to maintain personal hygiene.
The school in Hamala has already raised funds and donated several tonnes of relief aid to the cause and for the next couple of weeks they hope to outshine all other efforts.
“Here at the British School of Bahrain, we are truly touched by the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, and we are committed to helping those impacted by this disaster,” said executive headmaster John Maguire.
“As a community, we’ve launched several initiatives, including a collaboration with the GDN, to collect toothbrushes and toothpaste for those in need. It fills me with joy to see so many of my peers and teachers coming together to support this cause, and I feel honoured to be part of this movement.”
The idea behind the original initiative came from DHL Express executive Aurora Nolasco who took time during a rest day to visit and help out at a refugee camp on her travels.
“They suffer from a lack of resources, one of which is a lack of products that provide basic hygiene,” she explained. “They have nothing. Many women told me that a simple thing like a toothbrush would make a real difference in making them feel ‘human again’ as they attempted to get their lives back on track.”
One reader alone, who asked to remain anonymous, ordered 3,000 from a company in Saudi Arabia and arrived with her car packed full of boxes. By the end of the campaign the number of toothbrushes donated hit the 6,000 mark.
BSB launched its ‘Don’t Forget your Toothbrush’ campaign yesterday and the first supplies arrived in the reception area.
“Charity is at the core of The British School of Bahrain, and we support charitable initiatives throughout Bahrain and globally,” a Year 12 student told the GDN. “The school has already raised more than BD4,000 in support of the victims of the earthquakes, along with several tonnes of donated items.
“Charity and the values associated with it are very important for all students to learn if they are to become global leaders in the future. We remain committed to supporting our global community, and we believe that through collaboration and acts of kindness, we can make a positive impact in the world.
“We’re delighted to support the fantastic GDN initiative,” the 17-year-old added.
GDN readers and online visitors are already rallying round to support our second annual holy month community initiative to provide support for the victims of the earthquakes that devastated Syria and Türkiye, as well as struggling local families.
Your campaigning daily news provider has teamed up with the renowned Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS) and we are appealing to YOU to donate gifts during Ramadan to our offices at The Press in East Riffa, our commercial HQ on Exhibitions Road and the BRCS HQ in Manama.
Under the hashtag #HelpThem we need your support to collect brand new clothes, shoes and accessories for men, women and children, blankets and pillows, hygiene kits, toys and powdered baby milk.
The February 6 earthquakes were the worst natural disaster to strike modern-day Türkiye with more than 56,000 people killed in Türkiye and neighbouring Syria. Your generous donations will help people whose lives were destroyed in a matter of seconds and minutes and give hope that rebuilding dignity and everyday life will be possible.
#HelpThem … please.
lFor more details on how to support the GDN #HelpThem Ramadan community campaign contact the GDN’s chief reporter Mohammed Al A’ali on 17620222/39659635.
managingeditor@gdnmedia.bh
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