Charity Success for Young Philanthropists (From Your Local Guardian)

Charity Success for Young Philanthropists

8:10pm Tuesday 1st February 2011 in School Correspondents

There is an exciting atmosphere in the school Lecture Theatre, the room is bustling with year 9 students and their parents. This is a fantastic start to 2011 for young philanthropists at Gumley House Convent School one of 52 schools in London involved with this year’s YPI event.

The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative gives students an opportunity to express their altruism by choosing a local charity, contacting, visiting and thoroughly researching it and then presenting a case to a panel of judges for their charity to win £3,000. All year 9 students were involved in this with 6 teams going through to the final. The winning team was decided by the judging panel which included: the Head Teacher, members of the Royal Society of the Arts, school Governors and head of the School Council.

The team representing The Mulberry Centre won out of six eager and energetic presentations. The Mulberry Centre, which will receive the grant in June, is a drop-in centre and library, offering cancer sufferers awareness and information about their illness, treatments available and side effects as well as counselling support to all people affected.

Sarah Miller, Director of the Institute of Philanthropy, tells me that the presentations made by the students were well rehearsed and professional and the girls thoroughly researched their nominated charities. Ms Miller added “that the YPI event encourages students to learn more about their local community and also helps them to improve their teamwork and communication skills”.