In
September 2004, Principal Denis Delormes invited Peg Herbert to
speak to RPPS School Council about twinning RPPS with Guardian Angel
Primary School in Lesotho.
Arrangement
agreed to by Council was that RPPS would raise a base amount of
approximately $1,000 per year to support its twinned school.
Twinning
program served to increase cross-cultural awareness and educate RPPS
students about the needs of less fortunate children in developing
countries
100%
of the funds raised would go directly to the Lesotho school. Funds
were initially channeled through the Sisters of Charity (based on
Ottawa and Lesotho).
In
2006, Peg Herbert formally established a registered charity called
Help Lesotho, through which RPPS now channels money it raises for
Lesotho.
100%
of funds raised are still targeted directly to our twinned school.
RPPS
School Council is not raising money for a registered third party
charity. Help Lesotho is merely serving as a conduit for channeling
twinning funds.
In
2008, RPPS was asked to switch its twinned relationship to Mokoena
Primary School as it was deemed much more needy and Guardian Angel
was no longer considered eligible for funding.
The
amount that RPPS committed to raise was increased to $2,500.
From
the beginning, a lead RPPS parent served as Lesotho Twinning
Coordinator, to liaise with Peg Herbert, organize fundraising
projects and report back to School Council at regular intervals.
Gradually, as parent and school involvement increased, a Lesotho
parent committee was established to assist with these functions.
Examples
of fundraising projects over the years have included: Buy-a-Book
for Lesotho, Forgo-a-birthday gift donations, penny drives, bake
sales, school dance with silent auction, and grade 6 students
collect funds during the RPPS annual Book Fair.
Funds
raised have gone to a variety of projects at our twin schools over
the years: purchase of two milk cows, shoes and warm clothing,
desks, classroom renovations which include smoothing floors and
walls, installation of doors and windows where there were none, and
roof repairs. Heaters and paraffin have also been purchased for each
of the classrooms and some new teaching resources.
In
2010 a dance and silent auction was organized featuring Juno
Award-winning African/Ottawan band the Mighty
Popo. The
event was co-emceed by Evan Solomon, host of the CBC’s Power
& Politics
and Bank of Canada Governor, Mark Carney and was held in aid of our
twin school in Lesotho, Mokoena. Generous support for the evening
was provided by local real estate company, Sezlik.com as well as
several RPPS families. Grade 6 students were deeply involved in the
dance preparations. These included preparing skits for morning
announcements, advertising the dance, creating decorations, helping
to decorate the gymnasium and writing articles for local newspapers
(Manor Park Chronicle and New Ed. News) which spoke to their
experience of having been twinned with a school in Lesotho during
the past six years. $7,000 was raised in 2009-10.
In
2011 a dance, silent auction and BBQ was organized in aid of Mokoena
Primary. The event was co-emceed by Rogers
Daytime
host Derick
Fage and CBC correspondent Lucy
van Oldenbarneveld. Many RPPS students took part in a variety of
dance preparations which included making artwork, painting a piece
of furniture which was auctioned at the dance, and helping to
decorate the gymnasium. The dance, silent auction and BBQ were a
huge success bringing our school community together in a friendly
fun atmosphere while raising funds and awareness for our twin
school. $10,500 was raised in 2010-11.
Next
fundraising event is a bake sale on Thursday, May 10th organized by
Rebecca Gwyn and managed by Brigitte Lawson. The bake sale is
intended to raise funds for Mokoena and welcome parents and students
on the morning of the “Open House” for Education Week at RPPS.
Mrs. Lines’ Grade 5/6 students will work alongside parent
volunteers to run the bake sale. Free tea and coffee will be
supplied by Bridgehead.
Recent
Lesotho awareness raising activities have included: in class
workshops for RPPS students, penny drive in which Lesotho Kids’
Club advertised and helped count coins, a bake sale during Education
Week undertaken with the help of Mrs. Lines’ grade 5/6 class and
ongoing Lesotho Kids’ Club which has been meeting every week since
September.
Next
news update on Lesotho/Mokoena will be in the RPPS newsletter in
June.
$1,000
of the funds raised in 2011 was not transferred directly to Mokoena
in order to provide a source of funds to provide start up costs for
various fundraising activities as necessary. Unfortunately, this
money is now gone as it was among funds misappropriated by the
previous Treasurer.
