Salman Akhtar, an eighth grade student at Grover Middle School, has been working to raise awareness within the school of the October 8 South Asian earthquake disaster. With the support of Linda D’Orlando, guidance counselor; and Steven Mayer, principal at Grover, Ashtar has been collecting warm clothing and blankets that have been packaged and air lifted to the affected areas. He has turned his attention to raising money for several charities to buy tents and plastic sheets to act as minimal shelter for the homeless from the severe winter.##M:[more]##
Salman is not only aware of the conditions in the earthquake affected area, but he knows people who are affected. His uncle’s family has a longtime cook who gave Salman cooking lessons when he visited. The cook’s village was destroyed and there was no word from him or his family until earlier this week. Unfortunately, his eight-year-old son was killed by the disaster.
“Several of the doctors visiting the villages are Salman’s cousins,” says his mother Sarah Bhutta. “They are treating even minor injuries because the risk of infection is so high. A lot of children have had to have amputations.”
After the earthquake, Salman’s mother was on the internet and he was reading over her shoulder. “He said, I wish I could do something and then thought of asking the A.M.I.G.O.S. club at Grover to work with him,” she says.
“We want to train our kids to help others and learn awareness of the world,” Bhutta says. “The other students did not realize that they were so connected to the disaster area. Because they can put a face to the cause they want to help.”
According to the American Pakistani Forum of Mercer County, the disaster resulted in 53,”000 dead, 75,”000 injured, and more than 3 million homeless. Pakistan needs 500,”000 tents to house them — they have 33,”000 now. They also need mules, horses, helicopters, and provisions.
“Our schools are a real melting pot with students from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh,” says Bhutta. “Even though it’s international, when you know people it’s really not so far away.”
The homeless include close to 50 percent children. The extreme cold and lack of shelter in the Himalayas puts them at high risk of hypothermia.
West Windsor and Plainsboro-based organizations with clothing drives include Pakistani Physicians Association of New Jersey, the American Pakistan Forum, and the Institute of Islamic Studies. Call 609-426-1216 or 609-252-9696 for information and collection points.
Donations may be sent to Saint Barnabas Health Care System Pakistan Earthquake Assistance Fund, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange 07052. Contributions will be distributed by the association of Pakistani Physicians in North America to aid victims of the earthquake.
