Student Writing Competition- Our Second Place Entry

Congratulations to Amel for securing second place in the student writing competition! In their powerful piece, Amel reflects on the transformative experience of participating in First Give, where their class supported Leeds Children’s Charity through a fundraising raffle. What makes this entry stand out is its heartfelt honesty and vivid storytelling. Amel captures not only the practical steps of the project but also the emotional journey of overcoming fears, developing leadership skills, and discovering the deeper meaning of charity.

You can read Amel’s entry here:

They will change lives. 

My form’s approach: How we made a difference. 

A social action project called First Give aims to empower and encourage young people to improve their communities. Students research local charities, learn about social issues, and hone their presentation and teamwork skills through a series of lessons and activities. In addition to educating us about societal issues, the programme inspires us to actively support causes that are important to us in order to bring about positive change. 

My form, decided to support the Leeds Children’s Charity. We chose this because the charity strives to resolve the issue of children’s depression. Another important reason is that we could work up a strong feeling of empathy for the children in unsafe or disadvantaged circumstances. Due to the wonderful opportunity to participate in this project, we’ve opened our eyes. We became more aware of the problems in our local community.  

The social action we decided on was a raffle. We chose this because we have noticed that our peers have a sense of confidence. A raffle was, we felt, the perfect choice for students like this. We all had a job; sell 10 tickets, all £1 each, adding up to a grand total of £10 per person. We had 22 people in our form, so the aim was to reach £220. Overall, we gained an amazing total of £75.50, all going towards disadvantaged children from a variety of different backgrounds. £75.50 may only seem a little but we knew that it would go a long way to helping the children who need it most. 

The effect it had on me: Knowledge and Morals. 

This programme has really made me think about charities completely differently. I used to believe that charities were just events made for helping people who were struggling with medical needs, but now, I’ve realised that it branches into other areas as well. With the knowledge I have gained, I hope to continue to become more aware and sensible. Now I have broadened my horizons, I’ve become grateful for the healthy mind I have.  

I’ve developed a key skill: leadership, by presenting the charity presentation. I was able to assist my peers, who were unsure about the whole thing. I reassured them that it was all for a good cause, and to remember who we were doing this for. This project extremely impacted me by making me realise that people are suffering with things that have never crossed my mind. 

Thankfully, the fear of being a presenter was, in fact, all for an amazing cause. The charity has received the donations, and they have earmarked the money for the residentials Leeds Children’s Charity provide. Yes, I had multiple fears. The fear of letting the charity down, letting the children down when they depended on us. The fear of uselessness on the stage and not being enough. I was petrified of public speaking, all eyes landed on me, each one feeling like an individual weight upon my shoulders. But I knew that for every word I said, every weight upon my shoulder, every fear that I had to face head on, that would be that spark that the unfortunate children need. That feeling of hope, hope for a better future. A better chance at life. 

Next Steps: Next Year students, top tips. 

I would say, to the students who are planning to try First Give, you are bound to make a difference, that no matter how much money you make, whether it be £1000 or a mere £1, it would all be for a good cause. I know that their awareness about the problems in our modern society will shoot up, much like mine. The moral of the project, in my opinion, is all about making the most of it. It’s about being able to really wring out every opportunity to help the disadvantaged, whether it being doing a social action, much like my form’s raffle, or maybe doing a silent protest, raising awareness for the problems at hand. They could be passionate about it, really pouring their heart out for charity and the thought of helping. They will be able to look at charity in a new way, a new perspective, for they will change lives. 

By Amel

Congratulations again to Amel for such an impactful and reflective piece of writing. We will reveal the winner tomorrow!