Belarusian school girl says thanks to Macosquin pupil

But, one pupil of Macosquin Primary School has been lucky enough to find out where her box went, and who was lucky enough to open it.

Year three pupil Arabelle Conn and her family donated a shoe box with a hairbrush, purse, toy, pen, pencil, paper, sweets, toothpaste and toothbrush and a skipping rope as part of the school’s annual collection for the charity.

Inside the box the Macosquin pupil had written a little letter about herself and had mentioned that she attended Macosquin Primary School. And last month, Arabelle was sent a picture of a delighted Belarusian school girl opening her box.

Arabelle told The Times she was happy that the little girl who had benefited from her box had contacted her.

School Principal, Jeremy Farrell added: “It is important that our children learn the position of other children less fortunate, it gives them a sense of appreciation and that’s why we’ve been taking part in Operation Christmas Child since 2000.

Macosquin Primary School is just one of many local schools who annually take part in the appeal. Area Co-ordinator for the charity, Hazel Clarke said that around 7,000 shoeboxes are collected each year in the Coleraine area. She explained that the boxes are mainly distributed in Eastern Europe to children in need.