A fantastic achievement through helping together
Published: Sunday, 14 September 2014
The pupils of Bruneck’s secondary school “Sozialwissenschaftliches Gymnasium und Kunstgymnasium” have achieved their big aim. They set themselves the goal of co-financing a deep well to provide water for around 1,700 people in a juvenile detention centre in Sierra Leone – a project that was estimated to cost 36,000 Euros – and they really threw themselves into the task.
The fund-raising campaign has just ended, and now we are able to transfer the incredible sum of € 50,520.19, not only to finance the building of the well (which has already begun), but also to fund teaching work in the juvenile detention centre in Freetown.
“The youngsters’ commitment to the cause was incredible, as was the huge amount of support that the campaign attracted. Our thanks go to the dedicated pupils, to the media which drew attention to our campaign, to the many, many donators, big and small, and to our partners the Social Network South Tyrol and the organisation Jugend Eine Welt in Austria,” said Karl Brunner, who coordinated the campaign in the school.
“We are able to help the poor people, who are now, in addition, confronted with the Ebola virus, because so many people here in our region helped us. Thank you so much!” said Elisa Plaikner from the 5aM class who is overjoyed at the success of the campaign. The symbolic handing-over of the cheque took place during the church service to mark the start of the new school year. Wolfgang Quintero from the organisation “Jugend Eine Welt,” in the presence of Alfons Messner, Chairman of Social Network South Tyrol, accepted the cheque from the pupils themselves and offered words of thanks for the valuable help offered by our region.
Construction of the well is currently underway supervised by Brother Lothar Wagner. Water has already been hit at a depth of around 50 metres, and the sanitary facilities (toilets, wash-hand basins, fittings etc.) are already on their way by ship to West Africa. The inhabitants in Sierra Leone are badly affected by the spread of the Ebola virus, and therefore, at the request of the school in Bruneck, a donation account has been set up by Social Network South Tyrol.
If you would like to offer further support to Brother Lothar to aid his selfless efforts, then please transfer your donation to the Social Network South Tyrol’s account, IBAN: IT42 l060 4511 6080 0000 5001 504, code word: “Ebola.” The water-well initiative offers proof that individuals, if they firmly believe in their mission, can truly make a great difference – perhaps one of the most valuable experiences these dedicated youngsters have made in their lives so far.
Photo 1: Pupils handing over the cheque (from left to right): Karl H. Brunner (Project Supervisor), Johann Rogger (Headmaster), Anna Zingerle (Pupil 5aM) and Wolfgang Quintero with his children (Jugend Eine Welt – Austria)
Schülerinnen und Schüler sagen Danke