Schoolgirls strive to solve the refugee crisis in Calais, with a caravan!

Essex schoolgirls have raised money and donated their time to buy and refresh a caravan before donating it to be used by children living in the Calais jungle.

Teaming up with the charity, Jungle Canopy, 90 volunteers have given shelter and safety to other children living in terrible conditions due to the migrant and refugee crisis.

Caravan magazine spoke to the 15-year-old students of Chelmsford County High School for Girls to find out what inspired them to work so hard for the cause.
 

What’s been the main source of inspiration for everyone wanting to get involved?

We wanted to support people less privileged than ourselves and many of the students had been studying in their geography lessons about migration.
 

What do you think to the current conditions for children and adults in the Calais jungle?

It’s inhumane. It’s called the jungle and this suggests that the refugees are being treated like animals.
 

Do you hope that you’re work will encourage others to take a similar approach in helping and donating their time?

Yes, we want to inspire others and share the fact that if we all work together we can bring about change. If a group of young people can achieve so much with so little then hopefully others will achieve even more.
 

What work have you been doing to give the caravan a refresh?

We have cleaned the inside and out, filled the inside with donations and painted the outside with a design by a year 10 student.
 

How do you hope it will benefit those currently living in Calais?

We hope it will provide protection and become a sanctuary from the terror and uncertainty that surrounds them.
 

What fundraising efforts have you undertaken to pay for the caravan?

We have welcomed financial donations from parents and we have raised money at parents evenings and other school events, including many cake sales!
 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

Please feel free to help support this worthy cause because together we can make a difference.

• What do you think to the girls' effort? Do you have a caravan you could donate? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter, or drop Caravan magazine an email.

Or simply tell us what you think!