Walsall schoolgirl helps raise £6,000 for family who lost home in earthquake
A schoolgirl has won a community award for helping to raise £6,000 towards rebuilding a widow’s house destroyed in the recent earthquake in northern Pakistan.
Madiah Khan, a Year 11 student at at Grace Academy Darlaston, raised the money as part of a fundraising effort by Smile Again Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to bring smiles back to the less fortunate.
She said: "I have a lot of family in Pakistan and the Smile Again Foundation was set up because it was my Grandad’s dream to help make a difference to people’s lives.
"The foundation gave out small individual donations after the earthquake where many buildings and homes collapsed.
"However, when the charity found out about the widow’s house that had been completely destroyed, they decided to make a large donation to help rebuild it, and my uncle went out there to oversee the building work.
“I’m really honoured to be receiving the community award from Grace Academy Darlaston. I was so determined to help contribute to the Smile Again Foundation and I’m really pleased their work has been recognised.”
Maz Mohammed from Smile Again Foundation added: "We currently have a major project going on in Pakistan, helping a widow and her seven children who lost their house in the recent earthquake in Pakistan.
"Madiah has played a major role in helping us to achieve the £6,000 mark which we estimated it would cost to rebuild the house.”
The community award was presented alongside other awards for students who had shown outstanding academic effort and achievement during the year.
The awards were attended by Deputy Mayor for Walsall Rose Burley, who said: "I am delighted to be here. It’s fantastic to see the new building.
"I remember coming here before it became Grace Academy and it’s great to see the progress, both academically and in terms of the building. I wouldn’t have recognised it but it’s obvious that decent working conditions contribute to good results.”