School or class assemblies, circle or tutor groups - any of these offer a good opportunity to raise issues about global citizenship and supporting children in Afghanistan, who have had no education and little future, unless help can be provided. The very notion of charity is an important one to consider.

If you ask children what they understand by the word “charity”, many will suggest that it is to do with giving something to the needy. It is, however, derived from the Latin word caritas meaning “Christian love”, which is in turn related to the ancient Sanskrit word kama, also meaning “love”. It describes something fundamentally human: the drive to look after those in distress because we care about them - although this should not have an interpretation that is too syrupy .

The key question about Afghanistan is: what is the best way of helping children who have had no education? The well-used story about fishing is useful here. Give people fish and you have provided them with a meal for one day. Teach them to fish and you have fed them for life.

Investigate the sort of skills, equipment and materials that would be useful to people in a poor country. In the short-term, food, clothing amd tents may be invaluable, but longer-term provisions must be carefully thought out. It is important not to patronise the people, but to understand and involve them in the decision-making. There is no point in sending 20 tractors to a desert. Intermediate technology, such as irrigation and windmill or solar energy, may be more useful than high-tech solutions, such as computers and complex electronics.

Who are the key bodies well placed to help? Well-established international aid agencies such as UNICEF - partners with The TES in the Children Helping Children appeal - have people on the ground who know what is needed. UNICEF makes the best use of money donated. If you raise pound;5 it will be well used, providing an Afghan child with writing materials for a year, and pound;120 will resource a group of 50 pupils for a year.

This offers a chance for children to brainstorm about how they could raise money that would directly translate into helping children like themselves get an education, which is every child’s birthright. This is true global citizenship. So why not raffle something, stage a concert, hold a sponsored walk, have a non-uniform day or ask for a donation from a local fundraising charity. The sky’s the limit.

Ted Wragg is professor of education at Exeter University For more teaching ideas and suggestions for fundraising activities for the appeal, visit www.tes.co.ukafghanistan. If you don’t have access to the web, ask for copies of the ideas from UNICEF on 0870 606 3377We want to publicise that schools are helping. Let us know what you are doing. Email: afghanappeal@tes.co.ukFax: Ted Wragg on 020 7782 3205