School pupils’ fundraising helps deliver medical resources to Ukraine

Year 6 pupils raised over £1,000 on a special project to support Ukrainian people with local resident Mike Hynda driving more than 4,000 miles to deliver the supplies to hospitals and an orphanage.

Under the topic, #ChooseLove, around 60 Year 6 pupils planned and carried out their own charity day centred on some of the experiences of refugees.  

As part of the project, a Ukrainian teenager came into school to talk to pupils about what life was like in Ukraine and how she felt in having to flee her country.

Pupils asked local company NatureQuest to help them on a day of activities, including creating shelters, cooking outdoors and measuring out over 108 miles, the distance from Lviv in Ukraine to Lublin, Poland, a journey many refugees have had to make.

Mike Hynda, from Porthcawl, whose father was Ukrainian, also came to talk to pupils about some of his own humanitarian trips to Ukraine over the last year, delivering aid to hospitals across the country.

In undertaking a further trip to the country just before Christmas, Mr Hynda was able to take more medical supplies over, including medical headlamps purchased as a direct result of pupils’ fundraising.

School headteacher Neil Davies, said: “This experience has been invaluable to our children who planned it from the start. Through the process, they have learnt a great deal and raised vital funds through sponsorship. They are now looking forward to Mike returning this term to find out more about the trip.”

Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell, Bridgend Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said: “I am very proud of these pupils who have set about to make a real difference in the lives of those who are facing unimaginable horrors on a day-to-day basis.

“What a remarkable project to be involved with and I wish them all the best for their future fundraising activities.”

(Lead image: Google maps)