High School or 'Charity Powerhouse'?

Kids can be some of the most powerful and optimistic activists and philanthropists. In the UK this month, high school students are being recognized for exactly that.

A selection of secondary schools that their students have made into "powerhouses of charity and community action" have been honored with Giving Nation Awards of Excellence. These schools have collectively raised over £100,000 ($166,940) for more than 80 British charities, according to the program's organizer, the Citizenship Foundation.

Giving Nation, a campaign designed to demonstrate to young people how they can change the world by giving to others, gave the "Most Outstanding School" award to Tibshelf School in Derbyshire and "Schools of Excellence" awards to six other schools around the country. Chatham Grammar School for Girls in Kent received the "School of Excellence — Social Enterprise" award. Kids from the Tibshelf School will get to travel to Chennai, India, early next year to help with the international development work of the NGO World Vision.

“We know that most schools spend a lot of time and energy each year to raise money, campaign and volunteer for outside causes. Unfortunately many schools struggle to find an effective way of recording, sharing and celebrating these achievements with their community and that is where the Giving Nation Awards supports schools,” Giving Nation program director Anna Reid said.

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