The year 8 students have been taking part in a ‘Green Teen’ philanthropy project, supported by Cool Earth and Helston-based specialist holiday lettings company Classic Cottages, to learn about the importance of conservation and philanthropic giving.
During the spring term, the students held several events including a cake sale and ‘green’ non-school uniform day to raise money for the charity.
On Monday (23 April) the students invited Cool Earth and Classic Cottages back to the school, to hand over the money. A presentation was held in front of a year 7 class, where the students explained more about the projects they have been supporting, and a video was shown by Cool Earth to show how the donation would be spent.
Simon Tregoning, Chairman of Classic Cottages, attended the presentation, and surprised the students by match-funding their donation to bring the total up to £400.
Simon said: “I have been very impressed with the students’ enthusiasm and passion at every stage of the project. Classic Cottages is committed to both supporting the local community and protecting the environment, so it has been a pleasure to work with Cool Earth and Falmouth School, showing the students how they can make a difference and raising money for vitally important conservation work.”
The Green Teen philanthropy project launched in November 2011, with a ‘Dragons’ Den’ event which saw the three groups of students pitching on behalf of three Cool Earth projects, to secure a total of £1,800 donated by Classic Cottages. The students also received business mentoring advice from Classic Cottages, to help with their ongoing fundraising projects.
Jemma Woodman, Head of Communications and Fundraising at Cool Earth said: “The students at Falmouth School have been absolutely marvellous, and have made a brilliant effort with their fundraising events – we couldn’t have asked for a better group of young people to work with. The money donated both through the fundraising and the earlier Dragons’ Den event will go towards our projects in Borneo, Peru and Ecuador, and really will make a big difference to our work there.
“The support from Classic Cottages has been a massive help in making the project work, and we are now looking at replicating the initiative across the country, starting in Devon later this year, providing more students with the chance to learn about our conservation work and discover how they can become teen philanthropists.”
Imogen Dyckhoff, English teacher at Falmouth School and co-ordinator of the Green Teen philanthropy project added: “I am really grateful to Cool Earth and Classic Cottages for offering us the chance to participate in the Green Teen philanthropy project. The students have really enjoyed the lessons and organising their fundraising events, and it has helped to teach them valuable life skills such as humanity, compassion and benevolence – which hopefully they will go on to use in later life.”
For more information about Cool Earth, visit www.coolearth.org; for more information about Classic Cottages visit www.classic.co.uk.
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