Child philanthropist Jaleel F. Cameron has launched a fundraising initiative dubbed ‘Coins for Kids’ to assist children affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. Photo: team of Reporters

The death toll from Hurricane Dorian has risen to 30 in the Bahamas and hundreds remain missing. Photo: Times magazine

Anastacia Makey, 43, far right, looks at her phone as she and her family sits on cots with other residents inside a church that was opened up as a shelter as they wait out Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas on Sunday. — AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Jaleel F. Cameron and members of the Jaleel Cameron Foundation recently donated school supplies to the Rainbow Children’s Home. Photo: Team of Reporters

Cameron, a 14-year-old student of Cedar International School, started the project two days ago and said that he is very happy at the response received by schools so far.

“The children are excited about it and that makes me feel good to know that even us children are eager to do our bit to help other children in need,” he said.

All private schools on board

Explaining the initiative further, Cameron said that so far almost all the private schools have accepted bottles and have started filling. “It is my desire to do this at every school not only private but I have to seek the permission of the Ministry of Education for the government school.”

The young philanthropist said he had already sought the permission of Cedar International School to collect ‘otherwise donations’ but when the idea of the coins was put to him by a member of the Jaleel Cameron Foundation, “I thought it was such a great idea, we discussed it further, developed it and immediately ran with it.”

Persons are donating bottles and also helping to push the project, Cameron said.

“What is also happening is that persons are meeting me and making donations and I keep a bottle with me everywhere I go, that is not during school time, and people are putting in more than coins.”

Cameron said a decision is yet to be made for a deadline, “But because its coins and we would love to have each and every bottle filled. I am thinking we should have this to the end of this school term and the school to fill the first bottle to the brim will receive a projector and a certificate from the Jaleel Cameron Foundation. All participating schools will receive certificates of appreciation.”

Cameron said monies raised will be counted and handed over to Rotary for the Bahamas. “We recognise the Rotary family as authentic and accountable and it’s our way of doing our bit for others.”

‘We feel for the Bahamas’

The young Cameron said he can personally relate to what the children of the Bahamas is and will be going through following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. “I was displaced after hurricanes Irma and Maria and had to be relocated to the US in order not to interrupt my academics and it was not easy on my family.”

“I want to let the children of the Bahamas know that they are loved and that there are children at this end of the world that care for them and that we know how the hurricane has changed their lives and we will do whatever little we can to bring them some level of relief.”

Cameron has been hailed the territory’s youngest philanthropist having committed his life to community service following a bout of illness he had experienced at a very young age. This led him to the streets of Tortola selling water which saw him raising some $20, 000 for the purchase of an electroencephalography machine (EEG) for Peebles Hospital.

He has since done several other humanitarian projects and continues to be an inspiration to the children of the Rainbow Children’s Home, recently donating school supplies to the Home.