Read and comment on this story from the Saint Albans Messenger about Peace Corps volunteers Bill and Shirley Bingham who recently returned from a two-year assignment in the tiny island country of Vanuatu and talk to a group of students at the Bellows Free Academy. The elementary school students then orchestrated an impressive fundraising campaign in order to send care packages to the students of Milip Village. In addition to raising money to purchase materials such as notebooks, sewing supplies, and even a bag of M&M's candies (a favorite and special treat among the villagers), the students also generously donated some of their own possessions, such as crayons, books and t-shirts, to the children of Vanuatu. Read the story at:
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From Fairfax to Vanuatu
Fifth graders take caring to new level
"They did virtually all of it themselves." - Georgette Hoffman, teacher.
By SARA CUMMINGS Messenger Correspondent
FAIRFAX - After receiving a classroom visit from Peace Corps volunteers Bill and Shirley Bingham, recently returned from a two-year assignment in the tiny island country of Vanuatu, a group of students in elementary school here orchestrated an impressive fundraising campaign in order to send care packages to the students of Milip Village.
"They did virtually all of it themselves," said Georgette Hoffman, a teacher at Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax. "After hearing all about the way the students in Vanuatu receive their education, they brainstormed ways that they could help."
The students listened intently to the Binghams' presentation on the nation comprised of 83 islands, 1,500 miles off the coast of Australia, and learned of a society in which the majority of its population of 200,000 survives without the conveniences of electricity, running water, doctors, developed roads and a host of other privileges without which many people in the United States cannot conceive of living.
"There is little leisure time and the people there must be self-sufficient," Hoffman said. "It was important to stress to the students that these kids do not have youth centers and movie theaters and video games. Their lives primarily consist of hard work."
The students were particularly moved by the manner in which the children in the rural villages of Vanuatu received their education.
"They, of course, do not have computers, nor do they have crayons or notebooks, and they sit on mats on the floor, learning lessons through recitation," Hoffman said.
The fifth graders, stirred by compassion for fellow students on the other side of the world, decided to take action.
"They began brainstorming ideas in order to help the villagers," Hoffman said. "They would meet on their lunch breaks and discuss different options. In the end, they decided to organize a bake sale in order to raise money for care packages."
The students put a tremendous amount of effort into the bake sale project. They polled other elementary school students about their preferences in baked treats in order to increase sales, created and distributed advertising flyers and posters that were sent home with students the day before the bake sale to serve as reminders, and organized volunteers to set up tables in various locations.
After consulting the other teachers to determine the most optimal time, they wheeled a cart of baked goods from classroom to classroom.
The result was a success; the bake sale completely sold out and the students raised well over $200.
In addition to raising money to purchase materials such as notebooks, sewing supplies, and even a bag of M&M's candies (a favorite and special treat among the villagers), the students also generously donated some of their own possessions, such as crayons, books and t-shirts, to the children of Vanuatu.
"The children had to sort the items and determine which would be appropriate for the students in Vanuatu," Hoffman said. "The villagers wouldn't understand books about snowmen, for example, or ones portraying cartoon characters that are popular in the United States. It was important that the students take into careful consideration which items they could include while still respecting the culture of the people of Vanuatu."
The students carefully packed the selected items, including a letter to the children, photographs of themselves and the Binghams, and a disposable camera (in the hopes that the villagers will photograph themselves and return the camera for photo development) into four boxes to be shipped to the island nation.
It will take more than three months for the boxes to arrive at their destination.
With the money remaining from the bake sale, the students plan to purchase trees for Nepal as part of an environmental conservation project.
"The experience was really positive on many levels," said Hoffman. "What the students accomplished for the sake of the children of Vanuatu required a lot of planning, caring and determination. They all should be very proud of themselves." Click on a link below for more stories on PCOL
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Vanuatu; Service; World Wise Schools
