ISOI: Beginning relief efforts

Students and staff started mobilizing their efforts at an announced ACT meeting Monday.
The atmosphere of Islamabad is saturated with this event. It's in the media, on the streets, and in people's hearts.

I have spoken already about the media.

A colleague spoke to me about seeing the efforts to buy, pack, and ship supplies from caterers and food warehouses happening on the streets. She said this is the first time that the people of Pakistan have worked together for national interests; this event has brought the nation together [which is awesome in my opinion because the country has been sovereign only since 1947 from India and since 1971 from Bangladesh].

Luckily, most of ISOI's immediate community did not feel the effects directly, but the two elementary children are still missing and the elementary secretary lost her home. However, we all know individuals that were directly impacted and who are dead, surviving, or coping. I'll admit that I care first about my immediate community, i.e. students, colleagues, and self. My heart breaks to see them cry, to see them feel powerless, to see them act out in their distress, and to see their long road ahead.

In response to this atmosphere and in the hopes of empowering more people, a number of efforts have been started by ACT and taken up by individuals and groups at ISOI.

12th Grade Class Council: Blanket drive
11th Grade Class Council: International donations
10th Grade Class Council: Clothing donations
9th Grade Class Council: Local donations
National Honor Society: Food drive
Middle School: "Bricks" - fundraising to build four homes outside Islamabad
Environmental Science Class - Earthquake Relief Concert in November
AP Chemistry Class - Blood drive

Our mission statement at ISOI centers around academic success, love of learning, and global citizenship. In the latter case, we have been gift wrapped a present to show what we can do for others.