The Koninlijk Atheneum School of Ekeren (Belgium) supports SAHAYA INTERNATIONAL (klik hier voor een nederlandstalige versie)

Project: Fundraising for new school building for the Jawahar Matriculation School (kindergarten/elementary school in Andimadam in the state of Tamil Nadu, South-India)

Sahaya International is a social service organization founded by Koen Van Rompay, who studied veterinary medicine at the University of Antwerp. In 1997, when he attended an AIDS conference in Chennai (previously called Madras), he was shocked by the massive poverty and health problems. Instead of closing his eyes, he decided to do something. Sahaya International was born.

More information on the many activities of Sahaya International (including HIV/AIDS programs, orphan sponsorship programs), please visit the Sahaya homepage www.sahaya.org. Currently 10 orphans are already sponsored by the students and teachers of the Koninlijk Atheneum School of Ekeren (Belgium). Depending on its financial resources, Sahaya International is eager to support a variety of social, economic and educational program. Sahaya International supports the NGO READ in India, which runs 5 schools. One of these schools is the Jawahar Matriculation School of Andimadam. This kindergarten and elementary school is housed in a rented building. However, at the end of school year 2007-2008, the owner will demolish the old building and sell the land for the construction of shops. The school is threatened to literally be thrown onto the street!

To give a permanent solution for this urgent problem, the Koninklijk Atheneum School of Ekeren (Belgium) has decided to raise the funds to donate a new school (including land and building) to the children of the Jawahar Matriculation School. Several fundraising activities have been implemented so far:

The record pen seller was Nick De Pre (3 HW): an astounding 93 pens!	To further motivate the students, 3 teachers (Paul Brosius, Kris Henderieckx and Rene Marien) got a new haircut once enough pens were sold.

Early October 2007, the Sahaya program was presented at an alumni-evening of previous students and teachers. During a cozy dinner, memories of the old days were rekindled. A raffle with beautiful prizes and a silent auction raised extra money for the noble cause.

On Saturday October 20, 2007, a park run was organized. Under a deep-blue sky, actor Ben Rottiers (from the popular television series FC De Kampioenen) started this fun(d)-raising sports event.

Ben Rottiers start together with students.	Marleen Merckx, actrice from the television series "Thuis", gave autographs.
Paul Verlodt, coordinator of the Sahaya project, at the raffle draw.	The first prize, a beautiful mountain bike, was won by the mother of Femke Wilms.
The runners with the funniest outfits: Charlotte Aerts (2 Lb), Corinne Heyrman (2 La), Tess Van Santvoort (2 La), Femke Wilms (2 MoWeb	Award for most 1K loops that were run by a team (92 loops!): Lander Clemens (2 Lb), Christian Khomiakov (2 Lb), Arne Lambert (2 Lb), Witto Van Oijstaeijen (2 Lb)
Award for the biggest amount of sponsorship contributions (328,1 euro): Aster Boeye (3 Lw), Lune Horemans (3 Lw), Kimia Namadchi (3 Lw), Sigrid Van Elst (3 Wt).	Altogether, 2120 euro was collected thanks to the park run event!

On Thursday November 15 and Friday November 16 2007, Koen Van Rompay (founder of Sahaya International) and Mary Philip (an Indian lady living in California) came to visit the school. During their presentations, the students and teachers learnt a lot about the reality of daily life in India. Participatory activities were used to educate on topics of food, clothing, jewelry, problems of poverty and health. Koen also highlighted how a school is built in rural India.

At the end, a check of 6400 euro (the money raised thus far) was given to Koen.	Three very happy persons: Mary Philip, Paul Verlodt (coordinator Sahaya program) en Koen Van Rompay (founder of Sahaya International).

Other activities have been scheduled, some in collaboration with other schools. Examples include a pie sale, a market to sell used items, a solidarity week, and the sale of T-shirts.

The success of this project so far shows that the KA School of Ekeren is very committed to reach out a hand to needy people in developing countries!

Paul Verlodt
coordinator Sahaya-project
leraar wiskunde

KA Ekeren
Pastoor De Vosstraat 19
2180 EKEREN
BELGIUM
03/541.14.28
http://www.kamsekeren.sgr1.gemeenschapsonderwijs.be

You can send your financial contributions directly to the KA-Ekeren (account number 068-2328633-78). But because this is a general bank account of the whole school, make sure to specify that your donation is intended for "Sahaya project- sponsoring Jawahar Matriculation School".
If you like to receive a fiscal attest for your donation and you live in Belgium or in the Netherlands, then click here.

If you are in the USA and like to contribute, then click here.

Thank you for your support!

To the website of the Jawahar Matriculation School