Students have hair cut and braided for charity

Students at the private Xenion High School in Paralimni had their hair cut and braided on Thursday in an initiative aimed at raising money for charity.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the school’s event manager Sophia Chantilia said the annual initiative started spontaneously eight years ago, when the classmates of a second-year student cut their hair to support him while undergoing chemotherapy after he was diagnosed with cancer.

“Since then, more and more classes joined to the point where we are now, where the entire school takes part in the initiative every year,” Chantilia said.

She explained that every year on the day of the initiative, barbers and hairdressers from the Famagusta district gather at the school to cut and braid the students’ hair.

At the same time, along with the money destined to charity collected from the haircuts, students also sell snacks and sweets on the school’s premises.

“I want to express my gratitude to the president of the school board, as well as the student council for dedicating their time to this important event every year,” said the school’s headmistress Katelitsa Phylactou.

“The whole initiative started from one classroom showing its support to a student and now it involves the entire school. It’s a great success.

“I would also like to commend all barbers and hairdressers who agreed to support our initiative and who each year on the day give up their free time to join us at the school for the event,” Phylactou concluded.