This year's Youth Philanthropy initiative came to a climax last week when two groups of 13s each won a £1500 grant for the charity of their choice.
Instilling a 'giving mindset' has always been a vital ingredient in Harrodian's pastoral and leadership programmes and, in this context, Year 9 (13s) always marks an important development. Last September when they joined the Senior School, our 13s (Year 9s) also embarked on the tenth year of Harrodian's Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), a unique, year-long charity.
Working in teams, pupils are required not only to find and raise money for a charity that inspires them, but also to become advocates for their chosen cause. Each group pitches itself to a group of judges with winning teams awarded extra money from the central cash kitty the whole year group raises together through fundraising activities. The school is very proud that over its YPI decade, our 13s (Year 9) pupils have engaged with over 130 different ‘grass-root’ London charities and raised over £50,000 for them.
Harrodian is very proud that over YPI's first decade, our 13s (Year 9) pupils have engaged with over 130 different ‘grass-root’ London charities and raised over £50,000 for them.
This year’s YPI reached its conclusion in the Marquee on the 16th May when seven finalists made their pitches to an audience including all the 12s and 13s (Years 8-9), Harrodian parents and three judges. This year the judging panel included our Head Girl Tatiana alongside two distinguished professionals with international and local charity experience: Laura Winningham, OBE, the founder of Winningham Impact Ventures and Mandy Tottman, a Trustee of local family charity, Homestart.
YPI works so well year after year both because it requires pupils to learn about a cause and inspires them to engage with it
Captain Rob Stewart, Head of Charity, Harrodian
The judges were impressed by the knowledge the competing teams demonstrated, both of their chosen charities'' different missions and by the dedication and commitment they brought to their fundraising. They had real difficulty in deciding the winner and finally decided to choose two teams as joint winners: Olivia, Leela, Silvia, Christina and Stella for their pitch on behalf of childhood abuse recovery support charity, NAPAC and Aidan, Scout, Rosie, Lucas and Astrid for their campaign for youth empowerment charity Youth Action Alliance. The judges and joint winning teams are pictured above.
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YPI works so well year after year both because it requires pupils to learn about a cause and inspires them to engage with it,’ says Harrodian Head of Charity, Captain Rob Stewart. ‘It's a great way for Harrodians to learn the value of giving and the sense of fulfilment it brings.’
Please find below photos of each group that presented in the YPI finals - taken by our Head of 13s.
