Newham College students’ fundraiser teaches them about life in Britain

Foreign-born students from Newham College have been adapting to their new country with help from a fundraising experience.

Around 70 of them completed a personal progress course and handed over a cheque for £300 to the charity Community Links recently.

Their efforts helped to cover the costs of Christmas presents for children in hard-hit local families.

It also helped break down communication barriers facing students whose families recently moved to Britain.

Urmila Goyal, a lecturer at the college, said: “They did it as part of their course units that encourage our students to participate in their new country. They discovered how much need there was in Britain and said they had not realised that.

“Not only did they say they had fun, I think it also helped them overcome any reticence they had about engaging new people in the community.”

Fatema Sumaya, 17, who lives in Forest Gate, left Italy to come to Newham, created a poster used to promote the fundraising. She said: “I enjoyed this part of the course and making a poster. I feel satisfied that we collected money for poor people so that they can have a good Christmas. We had lots of fun.”

Around 70 young people raised money by approaching staff and other students at Stratford Campus as well as collecting food and clothes in the run up to Christmas.

They researched wich charity they should help, and wrote scripts used to convince people to donate.

Community Links has run a Christmas toy campaign for families in need in east London. They work with around 16,000 people a year.

Thomas Crews, the charity’s Events and Volunteering Co-ordinator, said: “I’m sure that their work brought smiles to many faces. It’s a significant donation, so we’re pleased to have it.”