Μέλισσα
Two of our students, Katerina and Theodora, were inspired to go one step further to help their friends in our sister school in Gihanga. They started a school store called Μέλισσα (as in busy bee).
In December 2010 they began making bracelets, bookmarks and other items and sold them at our Greek Community School in February of this year along with baked goods, popcorn etc. They raised over $120.oo with their first sale.
The sale went very well and they are planning another sale on April 13 &16.
We hope to see you at the sale to support their efforts.
Background Information
Our Greek Community School is helping out the children at the Gihanga Christian Elementary school in Gihanga, Burundi. This Gihanga Christian Elementary School was officially opened in 2008. Gihanga is a highly impoverished area in Burundi. The children and parents of the school are very poor. They have very little food and most often go hungry to school. The school itself has very little by way of supplies. The situation there is extremely difficult but there is hope and that is what has kept the staff and these children going for these past two years. The director of the school has been fundraising, here in Calgary, to pay for salaries, supplies and food for the children. For the past two years, the Greek Orthodox Philoptohos society has donated to this school and their generous donations have helped feed the children during the school year. In December 2010, the director visited our Greek Community School and spoke to the children to thank them for the school and clothing items that we collected. In April, the director of the school and family will have all moved to Burundi to live there and to help ensure that the school continues to run properly and that the children in her school are safe and fed. She needs our help to ensure that the school and its children continue to thrive.
Below is the list of items that are needed for the Gihanga Christian Elementary School. The students, staff and families of the Greek Community School collected a significant amount of the items below and in December we donated them to the to the Gihanga school. The director was extremely pleased and appreciative of all the donations given by our school but the The Gihanga school continues to be in need of school items and financial support. If we all tell at least 10 people from our friends, family, colleagues etc. about this project perhaps they can offer their help and they can also spread the word and get help and donations from others as well. We will continue to collect school and clothing items throughout the year. Many of ushave these items at home and now is a great time to sort through them and see what we can donate. Please send them in on Greek School days. Donations can be brand new or they can look almost new (gently used). If they are used, please make sure that they are cleaned before sending them in. No toys please other than what is listed below. There are 139 children in the school from ages 4-10. Here is a list of what they would need.
