Hope and Prayers for Nepal

After Nepal’s devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake of April 25 that has killed more than 7,500 people and injured over 14,500, the teachers and boys who were there just a month earlier felt strongly about doing something to help with the relief efforts. Which is why you will notice some unusual flags blowing in the wind outside of See House. For every donation of $5 or more, a prayer flag is raised at the College.

Prayer flags are stamped with one of the hundreds of mantras in the Buddhist faith, and then flown in the wind as part of the belief that the mantras will be transmitted into the air around them, conferring blessings on those who pass.

“We wanted to do something that people could actually see,” said Emma Totten, Community Service Coordinator. “When the boys got back from their trip, they had brought me some prayer flags, so they’ve been involved in researching what the flags mean.”

Grade 10 student Cameron Meakin, who was on the trip, says the devastating news hit very close to home. “When I first heard about the earthquake and saw video footage on the news, I recognized many places that I had been to,” said Cameron, who volunteered to research the flags and how much to charge for them. “It really struck home to me and I know the other guys who were there all felt the same.”

Within just a few days of the initiative, the RSGC community had raised $600. The goal is to raise $5,000 and 1,000 flags. The campaign will run until the May 25 deadline, by which time the Canadian government will match all funds raised.

Donations can be given to homeroom teachers in the Junior School and to Ms. Fitz in the Senior School. Donations will go to support the relief efforts of Habitat for Humanity and Doctors without Borders.

“Please donate as much as you can, even if it’s only a little,” said Cameron. “We want to get as much help to them as possible.”