Origami fundraising event

Published March 2011

A university-wide initiative led by the International Office to support those suffering in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake saw a fortnight of paper-crane making activities across all the five campuses.

Students and staff took part in origami workshops for donations of £1 or more. Participants created their own origami 'peace cranes', decorated or carrying personal messages.

In Hastings, £92 was raised in the session on Thursday 24 March led by new chaplain, Barbara Powell-Jones, at a craft stand next to the Student Union office in the Havelock Road building. The colourful origami peace cranes were displayed along with poetry, quotes and words from survivors.

Elsewhere at the university, there was an exhibition of cranes at the Grand Parade site, both in the main building and on a tree in the quad garden.

Jennifer Montague, project coordinator (international students) in Student Services, said: "The response has been fantastic and there is a great deal of sympathy being expressed for the victims of the disaster."

Staff and students raised more than £1,300 for victims of the Japanese tsunami, earthquake and nuclear disaster. The university's student banking provider Santander agreed to match money collected.