‘All about helping’

It’s no longer front-page news, but the Asian tsunami still hangs heavy on the minds of some fifth-graders at St. Thomas More Catholic School.

Images of orphaned children and towns ravaged by giant waves haunt 10-year-old Taylor Eymann. She was especially saddened by the story of a girl in India – a fifth-grader just like her and one of only eight students in a class of 32 who survived.

The children are back in school now, but they have “no books or any of the things we use every day here at St. Thomas More,” Eymann said.

So she took action. Two days after the Dec. 26 tsunami, Eymann launched what eventually became a schoolwide book drive for one of India’s hardest-hit schools, the Arukattuthurai Government School in the coastal district of Nagapattinam in the Tamil Nadu state.

“I want these kids to be happy, to go to school and have books to read,” said Eymann, who established a five-member team known as the St. Thomas More Tsunami Help Committee.

So far, students at the north Spokane private school have donated about 1,500 books. Their goal is 2,500.

English is the language of instruction at many of these schools, Eymann said, and books aren’t readily available to students whose schools were destroyed.

Interest in the tsunami and its long-term effects has inevitably waned after the initial outpouring of support. At St. Thomas More, however, the book drive has kept it at the forefront of students’ concerns. The survivors are always included in the school’s morning prayers, recited over the PA system. During class discussions about religion or the humanities, someone always mentions the tsunami and their obligation to help.

A poster in the hallway also reminds students of their efforts to reach out to kids on the other side of the world. Accompanied by photos of children – many who have lost their families and schools – the sign provides information about the tsunami and an appeal for help: “It is up to you.”

According to recent news reports, the tsunami death toll has risen to more than 170,000.

“What happened was so terrible,” said 10-year-old Maddy Graham, one of the five committee members. “I’m just glad we’re able to do something.”

Although she’s hesitant to talk about her accomplishment, Eymann – a shy, soft-spoken girl whom teachers described as a leader by example – was the one who got the ball rolling, students say. With help from her parents, she searched the Internet for information on the schools that were destroyed by the tsunami. After getting approval from Principal Doug Banks, she sent e-mails to administrators in India to learn how students at St. Thomas More could help.

Eymann later designed a flier that she circulated last month to students and parents, asking them to donate up to 10 used books. She also requested that students write their names inside the book’s cover so that the kids in India will know that the books are gifts from students in Spokane. Eventually, students at St. Thomas More hope to become pen pals with the students in Nagapattinam, Eymann said.

Neeraj Mittal, joint commissioner of Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation in India, helped match St. Thomas More with the Arukattuthurai School. In a recent e-mail to Eymann, Mittal wrote: “We really appreciate your gesture and consideration … We wish the students of St. Thomas More School and teachers who have helped you in this effort, the very best and thank you all once again.”

Once the students reach their goal, they plan to have a carwash or some kind of fund-raiser to pay for postage to send the books.

Kari Layton, the school’s fifth-grade teacher, was touched by Eymann’s work, but certainly not surprised.

“She’s done more in one year than most adults in their lifetime,” said the teacher, who got teary-eyed as she spoke of the girl’s efforts. “She sees a need and does something about it. She’s all about helping people.”

As a teacher, she fosters initiative among her students simply by listening. “When kids feel that they’ve been heard and their ideas matter, they gain confidence to take action,” Layton said.

These students also show a great deal of empathy and compassion, she said. A lot of that comes from their families, Layton said, but as a teacher, she’s able to cultivate their ability to care for others through volunteer work and classroom discussions. Since St. Thomas More is a Catholic institution, she’s able to speak openly about God and infuse spirituality and values into every aspect of the curriculum, Layton said.

Just recently, after setting up the Stations of the Cross for Lent at the church, the 31 students talked about how Jesus loved everyone, even the soldiers who nailed him to the cross.

“We focus on Christ as their role model,” she said.