Pupils thoughtful letter to Santa leaves teacher in tears

By Gareth Davies

gareth.davies@essnmedia.co.uk

When a class of eight and nine-year-olds were asked to write a letter to Santa last week, their teacher received 30 requests for PlayStations and iPods.

Disheartened Nalini Amichund, who teaches at Kingsley Primary School, told her pupils to try again, but this time they were to request presents for other people and not for themselves.

The next day, while reading their revised lists, she came across one particularly special letter, written by nine-year-old Mahi Sreekumar.

In his new letter Mahi wrote that all he wanted was food to be sent to Soweto – a township in Johannesburg, South Africa, which is blighted by poverty.

He wrote: "I would be very grateful if you could give them delicious food, refreshing drinks and warm cosy clothes to keep them warm and safe."

If that wasn't enough to tug at the heart strings, the youngster, from Pemdevon Road, West Croydon, had a special request for one of his classmates.

"The next friend I would like you to meet on Christmas Eve would be Jonathan," he wrote.

"The gift that I would like him to have is a very special wish, which grants him one last present from his dad."

He continued: "This would make him happy on the special day, his father died last month."

Ms Amichund said: "It was a real tear jerker. When I read that I had to step outside the room, the head saw me and asked if I was okay."

The Year 4 teacher at the West Croydon school asked her pupils to rewrite their letters because she wanted them to understand the importance of thinking of others.

She also takes time out each day to talk to them about places across the world that are affected by poverty, famine and disease - but she never expected to get such a moving letter.

"I want them to understand how lucky they are and that they don't have to always think of themselves," she explained.

"If I can get the message through to one, two or even 10 of them, then I've done my job."

Mahi's father, Mair, described his son as "very selfless" and "in love with Christmas".

He said: "I am very proud of him, he is always thinking of others."

Despite his selflessness, Mahi admitted he might quite like Father Christmas to bring him a PlayStation 3, but that it wasn't important if he didn't get it.

He said: "I'm looking forward to Christmas because the best thing is giving out presents."

With an attitude like that, he might just get his reward come Christmas morning.

Click the picture to hear Mahi read his letter.