Fairhaven pupil’s food campaign provides hope to flood victims
Although Gabriella has been consistent with her initiative, she is facing the challenge of gaining momentum for her campaign and hopes to reach more people through the Rising Sun.
At just 12-years-old, Gabriella Maistry, who attends Fairhaven Primary School, has an innate passion for uplifting those in need and making a difference.
Following the recent floods, she decided to embark on a food campaign and is appealing to the community to donate blankets, canned food or even water to assist displaced and affected residents.
Gabriella is no stranger to assisting those in need, having donated 150 blankets to families during winter, last year. She is continuing this selfless streak with her food campaign.
The initial idea for this campaign started from Gabriella wanting to encourage her classmates at her school to donate necessary items to the East Coast Radio and Gift of the Givers food campaign. She then decided to start this campaign within her community.
The idea for this noble initiative grew when she watched the heart-breaking videos showing homes being destroyed and families losing everything in the floods that ravaged the streets of KwaZulu-Natal. The Chatsworth pupil was overwhelmed by these scenes and knew she had to do something to make a difference.
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“I would like to help as many people as I can. I also hope that more pupils will follow suit by starting similar initiatives. There is no age restriction to being a humanitarian. If everyone worked together to do a small good deed, we could help so many people”, the wise lass said.
Gabriella is proud to state that she has received immense support from her family and classmates, who were excited to play their part in this initiative.
She portrayed her compassionate idea to the principal of Fairhaven Primary through a letter, requesting pupils to donate towards this campaign. Her letter was further published in the school newsletter to encourage parents to contribute to her campaign.
“I want to make a difference in my community. It makes me happy knowing that I can do something that can help the helpless,” she said.
