In response to the recent earthquake that struck the Caribbean island of Haiti, Bermudian schools have chosen a variety of ways to help the people affected by this devastating event.

Many have donated money to the Red Cross or collected clothes to send to Haiti. Bermuda High School for Girls, however, have donated funds raised to a charity called ShelterBox, which supplies survival boxes to affected people. This charity, sponsored by Rotary International, sends essential supplies to individuals who are affected by tragic disasters all over the world, to help them to survive during the hard times.

Keith Clifton, Assistant Governor of Rotary District 7230 (the district including Bermuda and several parts of New York) said: "With about 5000 Rotary clubs worldwide supporting ShelterBox since it was launched, it is now the largest Rotary club project in the world, with affiliates in eight countries."

The boxes supplied with an average donation of £490 (about $770) consist of items such as a ten-person tent, thermal blankets, mosquito nets, water purification pills, basic tools and a multi fuel stove, all in a waterproof, heavy-duty box that itself can have many uses, such as a storage device or even a cot for a baby.

All items included in the ShelterBox are specifically chosen for the different situations and places to help people survive during the days after the disaster. ShelterBox gives each box a different number, and the donors can track their box all the way to the final destination.

And as Mr. Clifton went on to say, "The boxes are distributed by highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams working closely with Rotary clubs, local organisations and international aid agencies."

At Bermuda High School we have raised over $9,000 through a grub day that was held on the 22nd of January.

Both the primary and secondary schools participated in the grub day, with the primary department raising over $5,000 for this charity.

The money raised went to buy eleven ShelterBoxes for survivors of the Haitian earthquake. The boxes will be sent as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the school will be hoping to participate in the Centre on Philanthropy and Argus' 'Walk the Walk', where you give $25 to enter and $20 of it goes to a local charity of your choice and the other $5 goes to help Bermuda's only volunteering website, volunteer.bm.

To donate a ShelterBox, visit www.shelterbox.org.