Eden College learners raise money for Syria and Turkey
Learners from the Student Christian Association at Eden College have been collecting money through raffles for those displaced in Syria and Turkey after a powerful earthquake struck parts of both countries.
ON February 6, a powerful earthquake struck areas of southern Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) and war-torn northwest Syria, leaving millions of people in the region displaced. In northwest Syria, affected communities were left to endure immense challenges like displacement, hunger and malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare and fires caused by extreme summer heat.
Millions of are people still grappling with the aftermath of the destruction, and when the learners who form part of the Student Christian Association at Eden College heard about this, they sprang into action. Since August, the learners have been collecting money through raffles and cake sales and by spreading awareness about the dire situation in Syria and Turkey.
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“We all feel that when people have been mistreated, whether by other people or by the environment around them, it is our job to help them because we are Christians and we were called to do that. We have been called through the love of God to help other people, and we wanted to show that just because we are in South Africa, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t help people who are in other countries,” said Bunkhouse Dlamini, a Grade 10 Eden College learner who forms part of the Student Christian Association.
According to Grade 10 learner Talia Maharaj, the group meets every Wednesday for 25 minutes to talk about God and share and grow in Christ together.
Thagaraja Pillay, an educator at Eden College, who helps oversee the activities of the Student Christian Association, said the learners were eager to help as soon as they found out what had happened. “This fundraising initiative started after we found out about the disaster and we felt moved by this tragedy. I spoke to the learners who were extremely keen to help, and we went ahead with planning how to raise money for those in need in Syria and Turkey. The learners raised money through cake sales and raffles and involved the entire school, and the learners of Eden College and their parents were more than willing to help. We will now channel the money we have raised through an organisation on the other side that will distribute the money.”
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The learners say they are extremely happy that they were able to reach their goal. “As followers of God and Jesus, I think it’s really great that we get to serve and really do what we were commanded to do to help others. It is a blessing to be able to come together as Christians and lend a helping hand,” said Grade 11 learner Vongai Mubaiwa.
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