On the morning of Saturday 20 September, the school’s annual Eton Action Fair dawned. As students and visitors alike hurried to the admission lines, every corner of the school seemed to burst with life. Strings of colourful flags flapped beside College Chapel, welcoming visitors to the festivities.
As vibrant stalls came into view, a mouth-watering aroma drifted through the air: crepes sizzling in pans, hot coffee brewing, and dumplings steaming. Mandala’s Himalayan lunch boxes and the classic Mr Whippy ice-cream truck particularly delighted visitors. Additional food trucks, drink stands, and raffle tables were dotted across the yard, as boys behind counters shouted promotions into a sea of eager faces.
On College Field, a village of activity unfolded with countless rows of vibrant tents decorating the grass. Accompanied by live music from Etonians, from jazzy saxophones to violins, a children’s train trundled past a thrilling sumo ring and a family favourite: the goat-petting barn.
Most boarding houses hosted stalls, each offering different goods and games. AGDF’s (Hopgarden’s) cheekily named Not-A-Casino attracted blackjack enthusiasts with its sleek decorations, while PAH’s (Cotton Hall’s) chocolate and champagne raffle charmed many. Jasper C (Year 10), one of the boys running the raffle commented on the kindness of countless members of the community who, though unsuccessful, “were grateful just for taking part”.
What stood out most amid the fun was the clear passion people had for raising money for good causes. Among the liveliest of stalls included Ruzgar T’s (Year 12) drinks stand. The non-alcoholic beer sold there was intended to campaign against alcoholism among young people. Ruzgar T aimed to raise awareness for his brand Generation 0.0, which seeks to “reduce the social pressures of a drinking environment” by championing alternatives for young people.
But beyond the colour and noise of the fair stood its deeper purpose: to raise funds for five charities selected earlier in the year by the Eton Community. These causes ranged from local initiatives such as the Well Windsor Charity, which aims to support the mental health of students close to home, to international organisations such as Asha Nepal, which works to prevent the trafficking and abuse of girls and provide long-term support for survivors. The three further charities chosen to benefit from the proceeds of the Eton Action Fair are The Link Foundation, Lymphoma Action and Borneo Orangutan Survival UK.
Ray K (Year 10), who successfully nominated Well Windsor Charity as one of this year’s beneficiaries, reflected that “it has a profound impact on the community in which we live”. His nomination was shortlisted after winning the school’s Social Impact Challenge, before being selected by a student-wide vote, following strong competition from a range of equally inspiring organisations.
“We were very lucky to get to speak directly to the founders of the charity and even see data so we could understand more”, Ray K explained. Looking ahead, he hopes that the funds from the fair will “enable the charity to execute some of their newest ideas and programmes”, including workshops and educational courses designed to support even more children in Windsor.
This year, the Eton Action Fair has raised an impressive £37,322. It stands as a testament to what can be achieved when the whole community comes together and as a promise of what more can be done in future years.
