SchoolAid starts earthquake appeal

Published 9:00am 8 February 2023

Schools across Australia are already rallying to support children and families in Turkey and Syria following this week’s devastating earthquake.

SchoolAid, whose founder is based at Clontarf and has member schools in the Moreton Bay Region, has swung into action.

The not-for-profit organisation that engages schools and students to raise money for causes they care about launched its appeal for earthquake victims last night.

SchoolAid Founder & CEO Sean Gordon OAM is concerned that in addition to the death toll, the tragedy has left countless children in pain, and suffering loss and distress across the impacted area.

“Many will end up in temporary camps where they are more vulnerable and missing school, friends, and security. As usual, SchoolAid will work with on-the-ground agencies to support young people once the recovery process is underway,” he says.

Through the SchoolAid Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal, school children across Australia will be encouraged to conduct events and fundraising drives to support children and their families in the devastated areas.

Money raised will be distributed to charities and agencies working with affected families in Turkey and Syria to ensure they get the support they need to deal with the ongoing disruption to their lives in the months ahead.

Impact on Aussie kids

Sean says parents and teachers may observe students feeling uncomfortable or wanting to withdraw as horrific images of suffering are screened here at home as the scale of the tragedy unfolds.

“The advice from SchoolAid is to be present to their concerns, to listen to them and provide age-appropriate answers about why such bad things happen,” he says.

Sean started SchoolAid in 1999 primarily to help students respond with their head, hearts and hands so they experience a sense of agency and feel better about the world and their place in it.

“Philanthropy is a powerful tool to develop perspective and engender that important aspect, called ‘hope’ that sustains us through challenging times,” he explains.

“SchoolAid has since its inception in 1999 encouraged philanthropy in our school children from over 6000 schools who have collectively raised over $6.6 million and supported hundreds of charitable causes globally.”

To support SchoolAid’s Turkey/Syria earthquake campaign, head to the website