Wymondham Teacher's Trip To France To Deliver Refugee Aid

Thursday 21st April 2016

An art teacher from a south Norfolk school will be travelling to France to deliver aid and to offer help to the thousands of refugees that are living in makeshift camps.

Andrew McFadyen, who has been a teacher at Wymondham High Academy for five years, will travel to Calais and Dunkirk for four days next month with equipment, food and clothing donated by students.

The 40-year-old decided to travel to the refugee camp after hearing his friend relay his story of helping to build shelters in France.

Mr McFadyen said: “I decided to organise my own mission. I will be driving the aid, in a van lent to me by Guest Truck and Van, to a warehouse in Calais. Then it is sent to the refugee camps.

“I will then be meeting with a working group and may spend a few days working in several of the camps. I might also be sorting or distributing the goods. It is really good to know that I get this opportunity to help in a meaningful way and not just giving money.”

The teacher, from Swardeston, has said the students at the school have been really involved in helping with his trip.

He said: “The school community have responded warmly to giving something other than money.   The church have also been collecting. The students have donated rice, tins, cooking equipment, sleeping bags and footwear.”

Mr McFadyen has also created a YouTube video in which he sings his own version of the Billy Connolly song If It Wisnae Fur Yer Wellies. The video was edited by a sixth form student.

The teacher said he created the video as a way to interact with the students to get them interested in what he will be doing.

He has also asked students to bring in their aid items on days he has named welly Wednesdays.

He said: “In footage I saw on YouTube, the camps are really muddy. So I came up with an idea to have welly Wednesdays to get the students’ attention. Their reaction has been good. It is also an easy thing for them to share on social media.”

 

Article courtesy of Rebecca Murphy, reporter Eastern Daily Press, Archant.  Picture courtesy of EDP/Archant.