Raising money for charities and worthy causes not only helps students think about people and groups who are less fortunate, it broadens their outlook on the world and builds a sense of belonging in the community.

St George’s students of all ages are actively involved in raising money for charity through the School Council in Primary and Student Parliament in Secondary, and the wider school community supports those less fortunate through the Friends of St George’s.

Maria Pantoulia, a Secondary teacher who coordinates Student Parliament, said charity work helped to build empathy and a strong sense of belonging in the wider community. “Students learn how to help others as well as the importance of giving. Moreover, participation in charity events allows the students to be active members of the school community, become social and take responsibility,” Ms Pantoulia explained.

Her counterpart in Primary, Katharine Oakes, who coordinates Student Council, agrees. “It is important for students to raise money for charities and communities to help widen their perspective and awareness of the world and other situations. By encouraging students to give back and help others we are ensuring that they develop into generous and considerate citizens of the world and inspire them to ensure change happens as they grow older,” Ms Oakes said.

The students are passionate in their desire to help others. “There are children and adults who need our help and don’t have the money to help themselves. [Fundraising for charity and worthy causes] helps to teach children about what’s happening in the world,” said Primary student Maria-Clara J.  

Each year, students choose the charities and causes they would like to support as well as the ways in which they would like to raise money and awareness. There are some charitable causes with which the school has a long-standing relationship, such as the British Royal Legion and the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and the school’s membership of the Society of Heads allows its community to support other member schools in difficult circumstances.

An example of this continuing effort is St George’s support over the last two years for a school in Lebanon. Money raised by St George’s enabled the students at Brummana High School to continue to receive an education through the donation of textbooks, online educational materials and access to remote academic libraries.

The Friends of St George’s also follows the practice of charitable giving and actively raises funds to support a school in a rural part of Uganda. St George’s is one of the main benefactors of the Lauren Patterson Memorial School and over the years has helped transform the facility from two simple mud buildings to a safe environment with classroom blocks, toilets, a kitchen and a well.

“We can see the difference our fundraising has made and there is an ongoing need to support the school’s running costs and meals,” said Rebecca Bermingham, a member of the Friends of St George’s. The school is named in honour of a former teaching assistant at St George’s.

Many of the causes supported by the students focus on the environment and helping the needy. The Primary Student Council most recently raised money for Caritas, which supports refugees in Luxembourg, while previous recipients include the World Land Trust and Fareshare, which provides food parcels to those in need across the UK.

In Secondary, fundraising is linked to the areas of the five ministries of Student Parliament. Every year the students support an orphanage in Tanzania where they have sponsored a child named Zhaid. This year they also plan to support the Malala Fund, Africa School Assistance, Anxiety UK, Greenpeace and the Orangutan Project.

St George’s International School is an inclusive, vibrant international community of 860 students aged from 3 years to 18+ years, representing over 60 nationalities. This rich diversity provides a unique and exciting learning environment where strong values are nurtured based on mutual understanding and respect. For more information,