Pupils from the International School of the Algarve in Lagoa collected more than 300 euros for the Silves-based charity Castelo dos Sonhos while further fundraising at the school led to more than 1,400 euros being donated to volunteers working in Haiti.
Dr Liliana Rodrigues, the founder of Castelo dos Sonhos, a charity that raises money for underprivileged people in the Silves area, went to the school to speak with the children about the work undertaken by the charity and to accept the donation on behalf of the charity.
Meanwhile, when the pupils heard about the disaster in Haiti, the student council met, led by Blake Moore and Rory McGregor, and it was decided that an immediate fundraising plan was needed. More than 1,400 euros was raised through a non-uniform day, which has now been donated to Assistência Médica Internacional (AMI), a Portuguese association that has already sent aid workers to the Haiti.
The International School of the Algarve are constantly engaging in fundraising for various charities and further events will be taking place in the future at the school as headteacher John Butterworth considers it an important part of the education of the children.
“Education is more than simply learning subjects and skills. Making an effort to help those less fortunate than ourselves is an important aspect of that which an educational establishment should be teaching its students,” he said.
