Student organisations start fundraising initiatives for victims of Typhoon Haiyan

Local student organisations and universities are raising funds to assist in the relief efforts following Typhoon Haiyan. Diane Leow reports.

Photo: UK Department for International Development, via Flickr.

Photo: UK Department for International Development, via Flickr.

Student organisations in Australia have put together fundraising initiatives for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines in November this year.

International student peak body Council of International Students Australia (CISA), Australian National University’s Regulatory Institutions Network, the University of Tasmania, as well as the Australian Catholic University’s National Student’s Association are among student groups who have collected donations to help disaster relief efforts.

The United Nations estimates 11 million people have been affected by the typhoon, with around 600,000 left homeless.

Reconstruction costs have been estimated at around $6 billion.

CISA has started an aid initiative, ‘CISA Story of International Humanitarian’, to provide students and organisations the opportunity to contribute in helping the victims of Haiyan.

CISA president Thomson Ch’ng believes this initiative will unite international students and the education sector to contribute humanitarian aid.

“CISA appreciates how disasters of this magnitude can affect on shore international students who still have families and friends in those countries. What’s more, CISA understands the importance of contributing to the call for international aid to both countries, as international students of the Philippines and Vietnam are a significant part of the international student community in Australia”, said Ch’ng.

Nicamil K. Sanchez, an Australian Leadership Award scholar who is from the Philippines, has been appointed as the project coordinator for the CISA campaign.

“I felt privileged to be able to assist in coordinating this fundraising campaign for CISA. Besides advocating for the needs of international students, this project will allow CISA to stand together with the Filipino and the Vietnamese students in Australia in responding to the humanitarian needs in the countries affected”, said Sanchez.

Students who wish to contribute to CISA’s fundraising initiative for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan can do so online.

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