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Aylesford School students support Cyclone Idai victims

11:44, 05 June 2019

updated: 11:52, 05 June 2019

They're known as the A-team.

Set up in 2016, the Aylesford School Student Council has been hard at work helping good causes throughout the world.

Most recently they responded to Cyclone Idai which swept through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in March killing nearly 1,000 people and leaving almost 3m people in need of humanitarian assistance as strong winds and widespread flooding ripped apart roads, bridges, houses, schools and health clinics and submerged vast swathes of agricultural land.

Students hold their certificate of thanks from the disaster committee
Students hold their certificate of thanks from the disaster committee

The A-team worked together with geography teacher Moses Mushekwa, who came originally from Zimbabwe, to coordinated a campaign that raised £1,061.93 for the disaster appeal.

That is enough to feed 21 families for a month, according to Disasters Emergency Committee.

Their innovative ideas included a group of Year 9 girls who raised more than £100 with their milkshake stall, and a group of Year 7 students who raised more than £100 by developing enterprising ways to grow a small start-up investment of a few pounds, including a pop-up lunchtime cinema.

Student Voice Leader Phil Neeve said: "Setting up a school council has helped students develop key character strengths, particularly integrity and confidence.

"We want our students to develop into confident young people who have a voice and an opinion. This is their school and we have always been keen to work with the students to make sure we are doing all we can to give them the high quality education they deserve.

"That includes supporting students in raising money for causes they are passionate about."

Students from the school council with teachers Phil Neve and Moses Mushekwa
Students from the school council with teachers Phil Neve and Moses Mushekwa

The A-team’s Just Giving Page is still open, for anyone who wants to contribute to the cause.

The A-team have other targets too. They want to ensure the school recycles plastics as well as paper and card. Improve the library’s resources to ensure that it is a central hub for learning in the school. Have a sustainable healthy menu in the school canteen.

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