A ‘KIND-hearted’ six-year-old girl who wants to make the world a better place has raised hundreds of pounds – including a month’s worth of her own pocket money – to help bring clean water to poverty-stricken communities.
Niamh Aston from Monks Kirby has raised £360 for WaterAid – a charity which aims to provide everyone in the world with clean water – after being inspired by a school assembly about kindness and giving.
The Revel Primary School pupil said it made her feel ‘really proud’.
“Raising money for charity makes me feel happy,” she said. “I did it so other people could have clean water to drink.”
Her doting dad Nick Donnelly said it had all been Niamh’s initiative.
He said: “Niamh’s enthusiasm has been infectious and she has inspired friends and family to help.
Niamh has already reached her £360 target – enough to buy a well for a village in Africa.
She started by making and decorating a donation box and giving a month’s worth of her own pocket money – just over £15.
Friends and family soon chipped in, with grandpa Frank Aston holding a car boot sale to swell the coffers.
And mum Sabrina and sister Caitlin, 8, helped her make jars of sweets which she sold at schoolfriends’ birthday parties.
Nick said he and Sabrina were ‘super proud’.
“She does make me smile with her enthusiasm for making the world a better place,” he said.
“We’re really impressed with the way she absorbed the information from the school assembly and then just ran with it.
“She’s a really kind-hearted girl – but she’s taken us all by surprise.”
WaterAid’s director of communications and fundraising Marcus Missen sent a ‘huge thank you’ to Niamh.
He said: “We’re all so impressed by the initiative she has shown, and really grateful for all her support.
“It costs just £15 to provide one person with clean water, so Niamh’s donation really will make a difference to families around the world.
“It just goes to show that you can make a big impact at any age!”
Nick is now arranging for Niamh to present a giant cheque to the charity.
And Niamh is already talking about her next venture – to help the environment by supporting initiatives to clear up waste plastic.
