The pupils at Storetveit has raised the money through selling raffle tickets and food at social events, as well as payment for short term work done for family and local business-companys. Member of the schools “Pupils Council”, Susanne Alver, says she has been following the fund-raising-project for two years, and that the pupils in Norway have seen that the money has been of benefit to the Addis-school:
-The money are given directly to New Life Community School, and we-the fundraisers can see that the funds are being used to make progress. This makes us more committed for the project.
Founder of New Life Community, Genet Loulseged, accepted the money on behalf of the Ethiopian school at a ceremony. She is a Norwegian citizen of Ethiopian heritage, who started “New Life Community” 16 years ago upon a visit to Ethiopia.
-I asked people in my community what they needed the most, and they told me that their children needed a school, Wz.Genet says.
New Life Community School was built up step by step through various fundraising activities. Today, it offers free schooling and one meal a day, and teaches its students English and Amharic, as well as other subjects.
-Some of the students who have graduated from New life Community School have gone on to jobs, or even enrolling at universities, Wz.Genet concludes.
(The original article was written in Norwegian by Lene Bjånesøy Engh for the local newspaper Fanaposten. Translated and edited by Tormod Nuland)
Links:
Webarticle about the fundraising from Storetveit School in Norwegian : http://www.bergensskolen.no/storetveit/incoming/article204707.ece
About New Life Community: http://www.norway.org.et/Norsk/norsk/new_life_community/
http://www.newlifecom.no/
Local newspaper Fanaposten: www.fanaposten.no