Salutions Publications | Education News
marvy and hukam complete the welsh Three Peaks challenge
Cousins from The Manchester Grammar School successfully completed the gruelling Welsh Three Peaks Challenge to help refugees in war-torn countries.
Marvy and Hukam Nerwan who successfully completed the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge for charity.
Last year, Marvy Nerwan, 17, and his cousin Hukam Nerwan, 16, set up the first Sikh society in the school’s 500year history. Initially set up to help young Sikhs feel at home, the society is open to all boys at the school and its members are drawn from many different religions and backgrounds, helping to create a strong sense of
community between them. The cousins, from Altrincham, have also been raising money for charity and, recently walked the 17m (27.4km) Welsh Three Peaks Challenge in just 24 hours to raise money for Khalsa Aid. So far, the boys have raised £2,050, but further donations are continuing to come in. Khalsa Aid is a non-profit organisation that mainly helps out in war-torn areas, such as Syria and Iraq; giving clean water and food to refugees, and providing safe havens for those at risk of persecution. The charity is currently helping sufferers of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti. The boys said: “We climbed Snowdon on the first day, which was long and arduous, but not too tasking. We also climbed Cadair Idris on the first day, which was very tough due to it being a six-hour, off-path hike in complete darkness. “On the second day, we climbed
Pen y Fan, which was a very steep incline and descent, but we managed to do it in two hours instead of the recommended five, bringing to an end our Three Peaks Challenge. “One of the society’s main purposes is to give to charity. Charity is hugely emphasised in Sikhi, which we refer to as Dasvandh. “We chose Khalsa Aid because it’s a hugely admirable and commendable organisation. We want to help support the thousands of refugees who are facing everyday struggles and fear for their lives. “It’s really important to us to help those who suffer from evils in this world, and those who are not as fortunate as everyone else.” Anyone wishing to donate can still do so and should visit .justgiving.com/fundraising/SikhiSociety. If you would like to know more about the Sikh Society itself, visit sikhisociety.com
Alderley School launches new mental well-being initiative for young girls
Alderley Edge School for Girls is delighted to announce a partnership with myHappymind, an innovative programme which helps to develop and encourage positive mental well-being in children. It’s not just the academic development of its students that the school considers a priority, but their mental health too, and it takes caring for developing minds very seriously. The myHappymind initiative is based on scientific research and helps to demystify the workings of the brain. This enables children to understand their own character and strengths in 92
December/January 2016/17 | salutions.co.uk
order to build positive relationships with themselves and their peers. Whether through in class exercises or homework extension materials, the myHappymind interface also allows parents to get involved with the project. Helen Jeys, Headmistress at the school, commented, “We have a responsibility to prepare our girls for life beyond the classroom and, by teaching them how
their brains work and how they can develop their character, we can create a generation of children who have the ability to manage their own mental well-being. It is our hope that this programme will help our pupils to thrive and be resilient in childhood and beyond. We are extremely excited to be starting this project with our Year 1 girls later this year.”