Meet the Kochi kids who went out and helped the people hit by the flash floods

Extending a helping hand to people affected by the incessant rain and flood, students from various schools in Kochi donated medicines and non-perishable food items for their benefit. The target groups were different for each school.

Sr Lizy Chakalakkal of Our Lady's School at Thoppumpady, whose students donated over 150 kits containing food and essential items to the financially backward residents of West Kochi, said the school wanted to do something for those who “get overlooked by the administration.”

“While people in the relief camps get all the necessary help from the district administration, there are those who might not face a problem due to the floods but are equally affected by the monsoon,” she said, adding, "For people, especially daily wage earners like masons and labourers, monsoon is a lean period. It is very difficult for such people to get a job during the season because not much happens in the construction sector. So, they are forced to tighten their belts.”

As for the Gregorian Public School, the students were the ones who planned, charted and executed the relief programme. “It was entirely the students' initiative. None of the teachers, including me, had anything to do with the endeavour,” said Jayaprabha, the principal. “The students decided what should be collected, constituted a committee, prepared a notification and collected the materials from their schoolmates,” she said. The students decided to help the residents of Kammattipaadam. 

Students of the school collected food items like rice, pulses, medicines and also bed linens and dhotis. “It was a new and revealing experience for the students,” she said.

The students of Choice Public School donated Rs 1.5 lakh towards the flood relief fund. “The money was handed over to the District Collector,” said the school authorities. Students of Global Public School donated in kind. “We collected medicines, non-perishable food items and bed linen. The materials were handed over to the women's association at TDM Hall the other day,” said the principal.