2006.04.16: April 16, 2006: Headlines: COS - Mali: COS - Niger: COS - Tanzania: COS - Ghana: World Wise Schools: Connecticut Post : In the past four years, seventh-graders at Roger Ludlowe Middle School have raised more than $29,000 for Mali, Niger, Tanzania and Ghana
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2006.04.16: April 16, 2006: Headlines: COS - Mali: COS - Niger: COS - Tanzania: COS - Ghana: World Wise Schools: Connecticut Post : In the past four years, seventh-graders at Roger Ludlowe Middle School have raised more than $29,000 for Mali, Niger, Tanzania and Ghana
In the past four years, seventh-graders at Roger Ludlowe Middle School have raised more than $29,000 for Mali, Niger, Tanzania and Ghana
The recipient of this year's donation has not been chosen, but once it is, the Peace Corps sends the money directly there, Haxhi said. "There's an action and a reaction, showing the kids exactly where the money goes through letters and pictures from the Peace Corps," Haxhi said. "This is important for the kids because it shows that their volunteering has a lasting impact on Africa that lasts for years, ensuring people with fresh water and preventing diseases and other problems by doing that." "The biggest satisfaction is to see that in the spirit of helping others and making a difference, students are learning and understanding about the African continent," Moitoso said.
In the past four years, seventh-graders at Roger Ludlowe Middle School have raised more than $29,000 for Mali, Niger, Tanzania and Ghana
Students experience African culture
ARIANE RASMUSSEN
Staff writer
FAIRFIELD — Fast-moving feet and hands kept time with rapid drum beats at Roger Ludlowe Middle School last week as students learned traditional Senegalese dance steps during a program on African culture.
The seventh-graders also celebrated completion of a fund-raising effort that collected $9,000 in aid for Africa.
The students, as part of the middle school's Africa Day program, sang "Let's go Senegal!" in an African dialect, repeating the words of Backa, the lead singer of the Senegalese music group Gokh Bi System, who taught them new dance steps.
"It was a lot of fun. I liked the singing part the best," student Jack Barre said.
"I liked the dancing because it was really cool, different and cultural," student Caroline Edison said. Ludlowe teachers Richard Haxhi, Lenny Moitoso and Philip Simpson organized the Wednesday program. Haxhi explained it was designed to dovetail with the students' recently completed lessons in which they learned about African culture, music, dance, history and current-day issues.
Student Josh Burger said, "I learned that there's so many people with kids and little to no water and it's pretty sad."
"We learned about the AIDS rates in Africa — that was surprising," Edison said.
Erik Krumins said that he learned "it only takes a little money to help a lot of people out" in Africa. "We really can help."
The Ludlowe students raised aid money in a "bowlathon" by collecting pledges of a penny, nickel or dime for each pin they knocked down while bowling at Nutmeg Bowl.
Using this pledge-per-pin method, the students raised the $9,057 that will be sent to the Peace Corps to aid an African nation. "Every year, we choose a different country to aid — the place where there is the most significant need," Haxhi said.
In the past four years, the school's seventh-graders have raised more than $29,000 for Mali, Niger, Tanzania and Ghana.
The recipient of this year's donation has not been chosen, but once it is, the Peace Corps sends the money directly there, Haxhi said. "There's an action and a reaction, showing the kids exactly where the money goes through letters and pictures from the Peace Corps," Haxhi said. "This is important for the kids because it shows that their volunteering has a lasting impact on Africa that lasts for years, ensuring people with fresh water and preventing diseases and other problems by doing that." "The biggest satisfaction is to see that in the spirit of helping others and making a difference, students are learning and understanding about the African continent," Moitoso said.
In addition to performances by Gokh Bi System and the drum and dance workshops, the day also included performances by percussionist Tony Vacca.
Peace Corps representatives also gave slide presentations of life in Senegal and the hardships and challenges faced in Africa.
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We have heard persistent rumors that Director Vasquez will soon be receiving a new position in the administration, perhaps a major ambassadorship. This is unsubstantiated although it comes from a credible source. The Peace Corps Press Office has had no comment.
Initiatives and Accomplishments: Vasquez's major initiatives and accomplishments since becoming Peace Corps Director include: an agreement with Mexico in 2003 to host volunteers, sending RPCVs to work domestically in Hurricane relief after Katrina, emphasis on recruitment of minorities and of community college graduates, upgrading Peace Corps' infrastructure especially IT upgrades in the online application tracking process and the Volunteer Delivery System, an emphasis on safety and security of volunteers including the creation of a Situation Room at Peace Corps Headquarters, modifying Peace Corps' "Five Year Rule" for employment, and the expansion of the Peace Corps to its highest level in 30 years. He is the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Ruppe Miller and Shriver.
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Story Source: Connecticut Post
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Mali; COS - Niger; COS - Tanzania; COS - Ghana; World Wise Schools
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