By Julie Kim, Korea Kent Foreign School, Grade 10
March 28, 2011___
An estimate of 10 thousand people died, 7 thousand people are missing, and 450 thousand people lost what they used to call home. With Japanese people facing such dire situations, students of Korea Kent Foreign School decided to take action.
It all started with a CNN video that showed waves of oil-contaminated water mercilessly charging towards the land, wreaking havoc on everything in its way. After showing the video to his Economics class, Mr. Ryan Chapman, one of the Social Studies teacher, explained in detail about what happened in Japan and what they should do in response. He started a fund-raising project with his two Economics classes, where the students were more than glad to participate and sacrifice their time and effort.
The first class reached the conclusion that selling charity bands would be the most effective and attention grabbing way to raise money. They would order bands that have the words “Support Japan” and sell them in between, or even during, class times. The other class chose the more old-fashioned way of decorating shoeboxes and going around asking for donations. The class also made announcements and put up simple ads asking people to donate anything, whether it be money or practical materials, such as clothing, pillows, and blankets.
The Economics class’s philanthropic deeds inspired other students to join the project as well. Kent’s student council members were eager to support them in promoting and encouraging the student body to donate as much as possible. They went around asking the English teachers to show the same video that Mr. Chapman used to spur a fire of compassion and empathy amongst the students. On the day of PTA, some students went to school and gathered money from the students’ parents.
Many chose a more modern way to raise awareness of Japan’s unfortunate situation: Facebook. Ms. Fandy Rosero, Kent’s Spanish teacher, posted footages of the terrible tsunami, and constantly updated her status that expressed her condolences to the Japanese people.
She once wrote, “To all Kent Japanese students, I hope all is well with your friends and family in Japan.” The next day she added, “It’s your turn to help your neighbors in Japan. Make the donation!”
Her posts encouraged students to give aid and relief to our next-door neighbors. Sageda Hydoub, a sophomore at Korea Kent Foreign School, posted a meaningful status that said, “Keep hope alive, Japan!” and updated her profile picture that showed her deep affection and support for Japan.
Students are hoping that more people participate in raising money for the lost, cold, starving, and grieving Japanese people. They plan to end the group project by the end of the third quarter, but their individual support won’t end until Japan is completely restored and mended.
