Education is not only about teaching children. It is also about the power to help and support.
Teachers from our free of charge project “Ukraine Speaks English” Anne Robinson and Elsa Canario (Spain and Portugal) created an initiative “Bracelets and Peace” back in March, 2022. The volunteers are working with students to produce yellow and blue bracelets, and are selling them at fairs, conferences, workshops etc. And the money raised is used to support Ukrainian schools, children’s homes, displaced persons who suffered from the Russian aggression, and hospitals.
Since Anne and Elsa are teachers and Cambridge certified examiners, they have an extensive network of friends among schools and universities. They constantly attend conferences, where they talk about Ukraine and their initiative, as this is how they can help. In educational establishments Anna and Elsa conduct master classes on how to produce the bracelets and other decorations.
«Through teacher conferences in Portugal that I have spoken at, I met teachers who offered to help. Two schools made bracelets and other things to sell. Here in Spain, I know lots of schools through my work as a teacher trainer and through my work with the Cambridge exams. I contacted some of them and went and spoke to students and we made bracelets. All the schools we have been to have asked us to go back, or have collected things from families, organised more activities to raise money», – said Anne Robinson.
«As a member of Bracelets and Peace we keep receiving messages from orphanages and schools around Ukraine who need our immediate support so there’s no time! Therefore all my time and energy is dedicated to organising as many workshops as possible in order to raise funds to help Ukraine. In these workshops we teach children how to make beautiful bracelets with the colours of Ukraine, but they are also told the reason why they are making them and to whom», – said Elsa Canário.
Anne says that children who return to onsite education and have properly equipped shelters are extremely grateful for the initiative. And this is really inspiring. Because their organization has often procured some small things for the shelters in different schools: new chairs, heaters, blankets etc.
The initiative raised 375 euros in April with the students of Colégio Efanor, Portugal from selling the bracelets. This money, as well as the funds raised at the Centro Britânico, International House Braga, was used by the volunteers to procure the necessary hygiene packages for displaced persons who are temporarily living in Odesa, and who receive support from the NGO “South Together”.
Moreover, the founders are selling hand-made golf club covers in Santa Marina golf club. And on the Vyshyvanka day in Santander, they conducted an open master class on how to knit bracelets for children. They are planning to use the funds raised at the latest APPI teachers’ conference to procure routers for schools so that they could continue teaching next academic year.
«The number one inspiration comes from the reaction of the Ukrainians we are helping. The kids who got back to face-to-face lessons, enjoying their basements, being able to continue with their studies. Whenever I feel tired, you can guarantee that someone will message me, saying how much they appreciate what Bracelets and Peace is doing. Or someone will contact me offering to help», – said Anne Robinson.
The main thing for Anne and Elsa is the trust of people. That is why they have a website and pages in social networks for the initiative “Bracelets and peace”, where they provide photo proof of the humanitarian aid.
«I’ve been finding my motivation to help Ukraine for 2 years now by teaching online an amazing group of Ukrainian children who inspire me to carry on with their resilience and kindness despite living under dreadful war conditions. Our relationship outside the classroom made me realise the real dimensions of this conflict by being sent messages and photographs of what’s happening in real time», – Elsa Canário.
We are extremely grateful to our volunteers not only for teaching English to Ukrainian children, but for all the support that they provide to Ukrainian schools, children’s homes, and hospitals! Thank you for staying with us!
Telegram channel of the project with announcements and meeting schedule.
The project is implemented by “Smart Osvita” with the support of “Classrooms Without Walls” and GlobalGiving.
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