THE April school holidays are usually the last time Year 12 students can relax before their ATAR exams, but 15 Hale School students are sacrificing their down-time to help those less fortunate than themselves.
During the holidays, the boys will travel to Vietnam and Cambodia as part of Hale School’s Student Service Learning Program, which involves the whole school by holding a number of fundraising initiatives throughout the year.
Proceeds go to the charities the students visit on their journey, and this year the students will visit projects supported by RideAid, a Perth-based charity that aims to help disadvantaged and disabled youths.
While in Cambodia the students will visit shelters, orphanages and day centres before visiting Hale’s brother school, which was jointly funded by Hale and opened by headmaster Stuart Meade in 2009.
The tour will end in Vietnam where they will visit agencies caring for the homeless, street kids and the aged.
Hale School’s service learning co-ordinator Jill Maskiell said the entire school banded together to raise money for the journey, and would continue to fundraise thoughout the year.
“This year, the students and staff of Hale School hope to raise approximately $16,000 to donate to the charities we visit,” she said.
“They have spent many months fundraising and collecting donated toys and equipment which they will sort out to give to the children in the various orphanages and our brother school.”