Earthquake mission at Farmor's school (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Farmor's School collects for earthquake mission

2:14pm Monday 28th March 2011 in News By Charlotte Shepherd

ENGLISH woman Caroline Pover, who has lived in Tokyo for the last 15 years, is visiting Farmor’s School in Fairford on Thursday as part of her ‘Earthquake Mission’ across the UK. She will talk to sixth form pupils about Japan and try to raise awareness about how students can help.

She is also collecting items and letters and drawings of hope to take back to the stricken country.

The 39-year old former teacher is a friend of Farmor’s school’s deputy head Andrew Wareham who was more than happy to support her mission. “We are fully supporting her mission at Farmor’s and start collecting goods on Monday, ready for Caroline’s arrival at the school,” he said.

Ms Pover was not in Japan at the time of the earthquake. “I spent an uncertain first week checking friends and family were okay,” she said. “Then the idea for this mission came to me. I decided to travel in the UK gathering financial, practical and emotional support to take back. I am not a registered charity but I am a concerned person.

“It is important for people to know that they can make a difference. I want to explain to young people about what sort of country Japan is. Last week I spoke to a group of seven year-olds and all they knew about Japan was tsunamis and earthquakes.”

A list of items that Ms Pover is collecting is on her blog, which can be found at www.carolinepover.info/earthquake-mission/.