The not help fundraiser for World Challenge at school I work at?

[HopingForSomeSunshineSoon]

I work at an independent secondary school,where the older years are doing World Challenge. These kids come from (generally) wealthy backgrounds. Fees are c.£55k per year.

They're supposed to fundraise a few grand each. So they're deciding they're hosting an event at school to fundraise. Cost £40 to go.

I'm being called a bit miserable for not supporting it.
But I don't want to help wealthy kids go on a holiday under the guise of some BS about helping take readings from a jungle or something.
Also, it's hosted at the school, run by the staff! The chef's team are catering and staffing. Teachers are promoting it. Teacher's are running the event!
The kids are just going to be "waiters" on the night! So it's not like they hired a location, DJ, organised food etc really. They organised a bit, but it turns out the expedition leader has basically booked rooms, organised catering etc.

I want just above minimum wage, and when the uppers are being driven in by drivers in Bentley's/Tesla's/Porsches, all merrily discussing their skiing break... I don't want to give them my hard earned money thanks!!!!

YANB at all U.
Just say you’re busy.

YANBU. You wouldn't be unreasonable not to go no matter why - no one is obliged to support anything - in this case you have a particularly strong reason to avoid it.

If the idea is that they fundraise to do this, they should be doing it themselves, not having events laid on for them.

The carbon footprint of these travel events is unjustifiable and any actual benefit to anyone but the person on the trip is negligible.

You are basically being asked to fund a jungle holiday for these children - there are far better altruistic uses for £40.

Absolutely with you. If the kids really wanted to do some worthwhile charity work there's plenty of unglamorous local charities they could volunteer at. The week spent painting an orphanage overseas is a ridiculous attempt to pretend these trips are some incredibly worthwhile outreach. I get that the kids who go on them have a great time and probably do learn a lot..I work in an PS and ours go on them. I'm not bashing the kids at all but I dislike the pretence that it's some selfless charity effort.

I think if you work at an expensive private school these types of things will happen frequently.

Who is calling you names at your place of employment? Report them.

Say you don't support voluntourism for obvious, ethical reasons and don't give it a moment of thought.

Yanbu at all and the school are really not helping these kids to learn about fundraising with this. Events of this kind with a £40 ticket price barely break even and will only make any money if the whole thing is being subsidised by the school. Fundraiser events need a ticket price of at least £100 plus ideally donations of high value items for an auction to be worth doing. You aren't the target audience. Clearly the parents and pupils at the school have money to burn. Let them "fundraise" from eachother and keep out of it. Spend the evening watching clips from "The Good Place" where Tahani gradually works out that being a massively overprivileged person using contact with other wealthy people to "raise money" for charity doesn't actually qualify you for sainthood.

I don’t disagree with your stance and would feel the same.

But perhaps you should change school. You seem to despise the children there, and remember it’s not their fault their parents chose to send them to private school…

The school should just cut out the middle man and give the kids the money.

I don't despise the children. I despise the sheer cheek of incredibly wealthy people asking people on minimum wage, or thereabouts to help pay for their kid's holidays!

I know right. This includes a 3 course meal too. I guess they're hoping to make money from a bar (that they can't organise or staff on the night, as they're mostly all under 18 ) - relying on staff to volunteer their time as well!

If you've ever been on Mumsnet before you'll know the vast majority will be in agreement with you.

I do agree with the PP though, in that you seem to have some disdain for the children due to their parent's wealth and that's a shame.

Well, you're wrong.

If you are just above min wage, who are the people calling you miserable ? Presumably you aren't a teacher so why has the focus been on your support ?

They should cut out the middleman by giving the money to charities directly. Flying teenagers halfway across the world to faff about is a huge waste of money.

Because others in the office are going

I work in a private school in admin. I agree with you. No one should expect you to attend at all. It’s an invitation, not a summons.