JEDDAH, 22 December 2002 — When students of the Al Hekma International School here launched their fund-raising campaign for the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) five months ago, some of the organizers thought it would be just a barya-barya (token) affair.
Last week when the students counted their collection, what they found was beyond their expectations — 8,000 riyals plus five big boxes of assorted used clothes, books, toys, and canned goods.
Spearheaded by the Student Council, the fund drive had become a project not only of the students but also of parents, faculty and school staff.
Even some outside groups have gotten into the act. Learning that the students needed to ship the boxes of donations to Manila, the OFW umbrella group Alyansa helped search for donors.
In response, the Al Hejaz Cargo service, through its manager Felix Jordan, who is also the sports commissioner of Alyansa, agreed to ship the cargo for free.
Jordan even sent two of his staff to attend the turn-over ceremony and assist the students in preparing the packages for shipment. “We are fully supportive of this project not only because it is meant for our distressed brothers and sisters at home but also because it is a good way of encouraging the students to render community services,” said Alyansa secretary-general Jibreel de Vera, who received the donations in behalf of the PNRC.
Sabria Cuderes, president of Student Council, said the campaign, with the theme “Gesture of Love,” is envisioned to be a continuing project that will be turned-over to the next set of student leaders.
Al Hekma principal Dr. Belma Regis, said the school adopted the project as a way of instilling in their students the “joy of sharing love and blessings to the less fortunate.”
Judging by the way donations are coming, she said, the amount they have gathered could hit SR10,000 before the end of school-year 2002-2003.
One of the parents at Al Hekma, Dang Javier, said that support for the project is a good way of expressing one’s concerns to the poor or suffering at home. It is also a good way of observing the Christmas season, she said.
Al Hekma was the first group in the Kingdom to respond to a plea for support by the PNRC in a letter to the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh in June.
The Red Cross is seeking support from Filipino groups or individuals abroad for help, citing the decline in donations from their traditional donors as a result of the prevailing financial crisis and “donor fatigue.”
Several other groups and institutions, including two in Riyadh and another in Dammam, have also responded.
