During July of 2010, Pakistan was hit by a devastating flood which affected 20 million people and caused approximately $43 billion in damages. At one point, almost one fifth of Pakistan’s land mass was covered by the flood waters caused mainly by heavy monsoon downpours in areas all around the Indus river basin.
After news of this natural disaster spread, Earl Haig students took initiative under the FACES club and organized an extremely successful lunchtime fundraiser for flood relief. Students and teachers helped contribute to the cause by purchasing Henna tattoos and food. Volunteers walked the halls collecting donations before school and during lunch.
Earl Haig was not alone in wanting to help Pakistan; both the municipal and the federal government actively took part in the flood relief effort. Youth groups all across the city organized various fundraising events. On the 27th of August, the Toronto Young New Democrats, a city-wide NDP club, raised $1400 to support flood relief.
These efforts showcase an international unity in the city that exemplifies the concern that Torontonians have for people in dire situations. Torontonians are known as believers in the global community – people who never hesitate to help others in need. It was, therefore, no surprise that masses of the city’s inhabitants decided to unite and work towards aiding the victims of Pakistan’s flood.
Initiative was also seen in other parts of the world. The collective efforts of the United Nations, the Canadian Red Cross Society, and various other organizations tackled the devastation that UNICEF representatives called “the biggest emergency on the planet today”. According to UNICEF’s latest report, half of the people affected by the flood were children. An overwhelming amount of crops have been damaged, leaving a scarce amount of food available to support the population. Schools, plumbing systems, sanitation systems, and electricity lines have been destroyed.
Earl Haig’s contribution is one step toward solving this crisis. FACES and SAC have raised over a thousand dollars, which the Canadian government has promised to match, dollar-for-dollar. This money is enough to build two small homes that could accommodate two families of six to seven people each. While this figure does not include labour costs, it nevertheless demonstrates the significance of our efforts.
The flood has created a gruesome reality for Pakistanis, and its magnitude has been felt all around the world. Even though many groups have put so much work into the relief effort, many people are still starving and living in unsanitary conditions. Some are even living without access to safe drinking water. Understanding the anguish and suffering that the flood victims are still enduring allows us to realize both the value of the contributions we are making, and how much more there is still to be done.
