AS THE colossal clean-up continues in the Philippines, here in Griffith students are doing their bit to help.
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With five Filipino families at Griffith Public School, each with close relatives living in the affected country, news of the disaster caused by Typhoon Haiyan hit the school harder than most.
On Tuesday, they held a casual clothes day. Students were asked to bring a gold coin donation for the privilege of ditching their uniforms for the day.
All money raised will be donated to one of two children's charity organisations to help those suffering as a result of Typhoon Haiyan.
School principal Jude Hayman said it was an important lesson in thinking about others for the whole school.
"We have five Filipino families here at our school and luckily none of them have been personally affected,” she said.
“The students have seen the news reports about it. I think it’s important we talk about what’s happened and acknowledge it and they see the humanitarian side of things.
“This is about teaching the children about thinking of other people.”
On the day, more than $400 was raised, $305 from gold coin donations, $37 from the sale of fairy floss and $60, which was 10 per cent of canteen profits.
“Members of our Student Representative Council (SRC) will decide whether to hand the funds over to Unicef or Save the Children’s Fund when they meet next,” Mrs Hayman said.
“We have quite a large pacific islander community at this school, so this tragedy has affected us all.”
Typhoon Haiyan swept across the Philippines on November 8, causing death and destruction.
Three million people in the Philippines have been displaced and more than half a million are homeless and living without food, water or shelter in the wake of the disaster.