On January 12, 2010, when disaster struck the poor island nation of Haiti in the form of a massive earthquake, millions of already impoverished people were thrown into a devastating crisis. It is in these moments when compassion and a desire to help affect us all. The students at Nanzan International School in Toyota City were not an exception.
They had already formed a HOPE Club in their school and were raising money to buy a cow for the Cow Bank Program in Cambodia. But when they heard that two of HOPE’s hospital partners in Haiti had run out of supplies, students responded by immediately launching a fundraising drive in order to purchase disaster relief packs through HOPE International Development Agency.
In five days the HOPE@Nanzan Club raised ¥211,411 for the relief effort in Haiti. The passion and zeal displayed by each member was inspiring to witness. Grade 11 student Hitomi Ito said, “We couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help. When I think that we are making a big difference in someone’s life, I feel proud to be a member of Hope@Nanzan Kokusai High School.”
— LOWELL SHEPPARD
