St Olave's School
St Olave's cabaret evening
© Sightsavers
St Olave's School in Orpington hold a festival week every year involving the whole school community.
The aim of festival week is to organise exciting and entertaining fundraising activities to raise money for two charities, which have been specially chosen by the pupils.
Highlight of the school calendar
The fundraising activities have now become somewhat of a tradition within the school, and festival week is a real highlight of the year.
Activities include special charity concerts where the pupils can perform in their own bands, non-uniform days, 'Just-a-minute' competitions, 'What happens next' film clips (featuring some of the teachers!), and many more activities.
After pupils have nominated a charity, a number of pupils then do a presentation at an assembly in front of the whole school.
This year, Lucy Whelan, sixth form pupil at St Olave's in Orpington presented on Sightsavers International. After a formal voting procedure Sight Savers was chosen.
Lucy chose Sightsavers as she felt it represented a cause with the right priorities:
'I decided on this charity because I trust the money raised will go on what the charity aims to do rather than spending large amounts of money on campaigning and advertising. Also I think what the charity is trying to achieve is fantastic. Combating blindness in the Third World will mean more people will be able to work and provide for their families.'