School calendars turned once again at the end of last month to the Three Hierarch’s Day – a day on which most schools are closed to commemorate the three Holy Fathers of Education in the Orthodox Church. But over 90 students from the English School participated in the first ever Youth Action Day (YAD) in Cyprus.
The venture was from the very beginning an ambitious one especially considering that its organisation was almost entirely the work of 11 teenagers in what was a student-initiated and student-led project. The simple aim was that participants would work for one day in local businesses in areas of their interest.
Instead of being paid for their day’s work, the firms would donate their pay to a charity to help support the educational experiences of children in impoverished regions of the world. The students decided that funds raised would go to the Sophia Foundation for Children which helps provide educational opportunities for children in a school and orphanage in Kenya.
The day saw the participation of 93 students, 21 businesses and the collection of approximately €3,000.
The project was only available for Year 6 students of the English School as the students were advised to pilot the project on a small scale in its first year. However, given the momentum that has been ignited, the students are keen that the project be expanded next year to include other year groups of their school, as well as other schools around Cyprus.
It is worth noting that, in 2006, a similar project was organised in Belgium with the initial participation of 600 students. The same event last year, eleven years later, attracted over 15,000 students and raised more than half a million euros!
The companies that participated in the day were: A&P (Andreou & Paraskevaides) Enterprises Plc, AF Modinos & SA Vrahimis, AKTI, Apollonio Hospital, Aretaeio Hospital, Astrobank, AWG, CYPET Technologies, CyTA, Eurobank, Hellenic Bank (sponsorship), ISOTECH, KPMG, Linde-Hadjikyriakos Gas Ltd., Maria Kythreotou Colocassidou Interior Design Studio, Nice Day Developments, Point Centre, PWC, Simpraxis Architects, Vafeades & Vafeades, Yiannoukas Medical Laboratories and Zopiros Vet Clinic
9 Comments
Anna Kimberley
February 8, 2018 at 16:43I was shopping in Jumbo last Tuesday on Three Hierarch’s Day. It was full of children choosing their carnival costumes. Surely, a day which is supposedly, a celebration of education, should require children to be in school?
Neroli
February 8, 2018 at 18:46You would have thought so!!
Anna Kimberley
February 9, 2018 at 16:43Yes, Indeed! It seems a contradiction celebrating education by having the day off.
Vaso
February 8, 2018 at 21:21At least these kids know why they’re off school! Unlike in the UK where unfortunately most children think Easter is about a bunny and chocolate eggs!
Anna Kimberley
February 9, 2018 at 16:14The fact that these children know why they’re off school still does not justify a day off school. I happen to be a teacher myself and it is not beneficial when there are disruptions during lesson time. The majority of parents are hard pressed when it comes to paying for extra lessons in order to cover a curriculum that ought to be covered during school hours and, days off during lesson time are unjustifiable.
Vaso
February 9, 2018 at 19:00Well done for that! I think understanding and knowing who our religious forefathers were as a Greek Orthodox country is just as important! It would be very sad if these three great men were forgotten!
Anna Kimberley
February 9, 2018 at 19:32I am not seeking praise. I would like to clarify that I accept ALL faiths and that I don’t consider any one faith as being superior to another.
Vaso
February 9, 2018 at 20:20That’s your prerogative but this is a Greek Orthodox country and I’m proud of that and glad that our children are being educated in our faith.
Neroli
February 8, 2018 at 16:32The three holy fathers of education?? Who are they??