Children Helping Children

Have you ever heard of a "Grusical"?

The primary school pupils of the community school Schellenberg performed such a "Grusical".

Various scenes were about evil spirits who wanted to destroy the forest, the streams and all life on earth, as well as the good spirits who fought against the evil ones. It was an interplay between the dead and the living forest. In six different scenes, the 37 children were able to demonstrate their acting talent.

In the end, the good spirits won and saved the forest, as well as the trapped children in this world.

The cool thing about it: the invited parents were allowed to put a lump sum into the donation box, which we were allowed to accept as a donation from SOS Children's Village!

In beautiful sunshine, the children of the Gamprin community school had a special kind of sports day: They had to complete twelve different tasks.

The programme included sack races, Frisbee throwing and a course where the children had to collect as many puzzle pieces as possible as quickly as possible. The teachers around the organiser Andrea Beck were extremely creative and offered the children a varied programme.
The highlight was the fundraising run, in which the girls and boys had to complete a 330-metre lap around the school. Beforehand, they had agreed with their parents, neighbours, gottas or nenis how much they would donate for each lap they ran. This motivated them to run as many laps as possible! On average, the little athletes completed 5 laps in 12 minutes - a remarkable achievement.

The money will go to a development project in Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world. SOS Children's Villages runs a multi-year project there to support families in poverty. This money will enable these families to buy chickens: a sustainable source of food and income, especially for single mothers. With a small chicken farm, these families can free themselves from their hopeless situation. The total donation of CHF 12,376 was handed over by the students to SOS Children's Village Liechtenstein last week.

We are soooo impressed by the schoolchildren of Mauren Primary School!

The charity run in aid of Ukrainian war children was a complete success. The 190 boys and girls from Mauren ran almost a kilometre and collected an incredible CHF 26'300 from their parents, nannies, godmothers and neighbours!

We from SOS Children's Villages were able to show the boys and girls exactly what happens with the money and where we provide help. Afterwards, we were able to accept this generous donation.
A big thank you to all the young and old who put their heart and soul into this sponsored run!

Committed and showing solidarity: Children of the formatio public school collect donations for Ukrainian refugee children.

After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, it was clear to the pupils and teachers of the formatio public school that they wanted to support children affected by war.

In class, the children dealt with the war issue, the background and the history of Ukraine and Russia. Together with the team of teachers, the children thought about how they could raise money. One class decided to write their own play and perform it in front of their parents. Other classes sold drawings and works of art that had previously been exhibited in the gasometer. In addition, the dedicated boys and girls made peace doves, sold cakes and collected clothes, which were handed over to the Hilfswerk Liechtenstein. From primary school to upper secondary school, all pupils and teachers were involved and committed.

In the end, the formatio public school was able to hand over more than CHF 3,800 to SOS Children's Villages. The children's aid organisation cares for several hundred war-affected, parentless or abandoned children in Ukraine and the surrounding countries and, together with two local organisations, currently provides emergency aid for over 60,000 people in the border regions of the war-affected country.

The media reported continuously on the Ukraine war from the end of February 2022. This also moved the young people in Liechtenstein, so two young boys, Lukas Frommelt and Moritz Kind, talked about it with the youth worker from Eschen, Elisabeth Müssner.

It quickly became clear that there is more to do here than just listen to the news and feel uncomfortable. Barely a week later, on Wednesday 23 March, the boys, together with the Open Youth Work Eschen-Nendeln, organised a cake action on the Eschen village square.
The social media advertising showed its effect, as some people came especially for the action. Friends of the boys also participated energetically and displayed good sales skills .

With yellow tablecloths and blue napkins, symbolic attention was drawn to Ukraine. Besides cakes, coffee and drinks were offered and music was played to draw attention to the campaign. Passers-by could decide for themselves how much each piece of cake was worth to them.

After three hours, the young people could say that the fundraising campaign was a complete success!

A total of 1040 CHF was collected! A big thank you goes out to all the teenagers, cake eaters and donors that afternoon!

Every year, students at the Liechtenstein Gymnasium get involved in helping people in need as part of their ethics and religion classes.

2021 was no exception: the young people of Class 3c decided to support children in Madagascar, where there is currently a great famine. So the students created a flyer and baked eagerly finest Christmas cookies, which they offered at the beginning of December in the stores and offices in and around Vaduz for a voluntary donation. In the process, the students collected CHF 1,400.

Climate-induced famine

Teacher Peter Mennel felt it was important "for young people to learn how climate change and hunger are connected and to be given an opportunity for concrete action." The climate-related famine in Madagascar is a major challenge for the people there. Drought has prevailed for four years, and this year's harvest has also withered. The desperate children and families are being offered access to food programs and water, among other things, through the support of the high school students. The project is being implemented by SOS Children's Villages, which has been active in Madagascar for more than 30 years and has launched a nine-month emergency relief program for the starving population.

Every year, students at the Liechtenstein Gymnasium get involved in helping people in need as part of their ethics and religion classes.

This year was no exception: the young people of Class 3c decided to support children in Madagascar, where there is currently a great famine. So the students created a flyer and baked eagerly finest Christmas cookies, which they offered at the beginning of December in the stores and offices in and around Vaduz for a voluntary donation. In the process, the students collected CHF 1,400.

Climate-induced famine

Teacher Peter Mennel felt it was important "for young people to learn how climate change and hunger are connected and to be given an opportunity for concrete action." The climate-related famine in Madagascar is a major challenge for the people there. Drought has prevailed for four years, and this year's harvest has also withered. The desperate children and families are being offered access to food programs and water, among other things, through the support of the high school students. The project is being implemented by SOS Children's Villages, which has been active in Madagascar for more than 30 years and has launched a nine-month emergency relief program for the starving population.

Two dedicated girls sold their self-crocheted cuddly animals as well as pretty pennants and decorative hearts at the Christmas market in Schaan. They braved the cold and windy weather and collected CHF 1'000 for starving children in Madagascar. A great commitment of the two girls - thank you very much!

Every Lent, religion teacher Monika Mandel organizes the "Bread and Flowers Day" at Eschen Parish School. On that day, the girls and boys sell flowers for the benefit of a charitable project and receive a fine loaf of bread at break time.

This year, the boys and girls collected money for children affected by famine in Madagascar. This is being implemented by SOS Children's Villages and will benefit around 15,000 babies, children and parents. Carola Büchel, Head of Programs & Communication at SOS Children's Villages Liechtenstein, was able to present the project to the children. The primary school students had rehearsed a song and were enthusiastic about the project.

In the end, SOS Children's Villages was able to collect over CHF 1,700 from this wonderful event!

With her self-designed book, Elisa Di Benedetto supports orphans in Central Africa.

Elisa Di Benedetto is 16 years old and attends the secondary school in Eschen. Her final project is a children's book for 3 to 5 year olds, which she designed and wrote herself. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go entirely to SOS-Kinderdorf (Liechtenstein) e. V. and thus to the children's village for former child soldiers in Bangui, in Central Africa.

Painting is one of Elisa Di Benedetto's favourite pastimes. Professionally, she would like to work in the social sector one day.

The book can be ordered directly for CHF 25.00 or a donation of your choice from SOS Children's Villages Liechtenstein: willkommen@sos-kinderdorf.li or +423 222 01 01.

Fundraiser of the formatio private school

«I think it's nice that we were able to help SOS Children's Villages and thus many children through our charity run.»

Every year, so-called «theme days" take place at the formatio private school. This time, the students of the secondary school spent two days dealing with the circumstances under which other children grow up in this world and what rights children have at all. A topic that aroused great interest. Moritz said: "Thanks to the theme days and the SOS Children's Village, I have now learned what rights I have. My political interest has been awakened by this.»

In addition to expert lectures by Carola Büchel (SOS Children's Village Liechtenstein) and Katrin Grabner (children's rights expert at SOS Children's Villages Austria), the girls and boys dealt with the life stories of children growing up in an SOS Children's Village. "The theme days made me realise how good we have it here in Liechtenstein. It is even nicer to see that SOS Children's Villages helps children and young people in need," said pupil Jessica.

The highlight of the event was the fundraising run, which, thanks to the sporting efforts of the participants, resulted in the Thanks to the students' athletic efforts, the impressive sum of CHF 8,454 was donated. At the request of the students, this generous donation amount will be invested ivaccinations, school books, emergency aid and food packages, mosquito nets for goats and dairy cows for needy families and children. The handing over of the cheque last Friday caused many beaming faces.

Schellenberg primary school pupils organise a fundraising campaign

Th pride and joy of the girls and boys from the two middle school classes could not have been greater when they were able to hand over a cheque for CHF 1,400 to SOS Children's Village Liechtenstein.

"We sewed cherry pit cushions and hair elastics, made clay bowls and made nail pictures," the children said. "Then we sold them at the village shop and to our families and friends, and one girl played the clarinet. Jessica Meier, teacher in charge at the Schellenberg primary school, confirms that the primary school pupils took part in this fundraising campaign "with enormous enthusiasm".

School supplies and goats
At the cheque presentation, the pupils learned more about the children, who grow up in an SOS Children's Village. They were deeply moved by the fate of the children who no longer have parents or whose parents could no longer take care of them. By means of a vote, they finally decided to use half of the money for school materials for needy children in Africa. The other half will be used to buy goats, which will provide families with an income through the sale of milk and cheese.

Gymi for Change and class 2c support people in Ethiopia

Since the Christmas markets were cancelled due to the Corona measures, the Gymi For Change looked for an alternative for their annual Christmas Market stand and found it in the Wellbeing Market Schaan.

This market offers high-quality regional products from Liechtenstein and Switzerland several times a year under the motto "gsunds & feins". On Saturday, November 28th, the students were able to offer their products against voluntary donations from 10.00 to 17.00 pm in the Lindahof thanks to the spontaneous support of the organizer Karin Brandstetter.

In addition to the more than 1000 Christmas cookies, there was again homemade bread (from Frank Wilke, brotbackkurse.com) and self-made blankets and knitted goods from parents and grandparents. All in all, a great profit of CHF 2000 could be achieved - also favored by a strong donation of grandparents of a Gymi For Change member. It will be donated to the Ethiopia project of the SOS Children's Village Liechtenstein.

For the children in Ethiopia there are hardly any prospects for a better future. The country's school enrollment rate is among the lowest in the world. Many children cannot even attend elementary school and have to work instead. Especially during the months of April to August, there is an acute shortage of food and water in the region. This year there was a plague of locusts which destroyed large parts of the harvest.  Many children are abandoned on the streets or are AIDS orphans. To survive, these children have to work instead of going to school. Exploitation and violence against children is widespread. Malnutrition, contaminated drinking water and lack of sanitary facilities lead to diseases for which there is no money for medical treatment.

The organization SOS Children's Villages has been in the Harari region for many years and is improving the lives of hundreds of children and their parents in a long-term and sustainable way with its multi-year aid program. The goal is to empower people so that they can generate enough income for their families themselves in the future and take proper care of their children. Children are to be given access to food, education and healthcare.

In order to increase the contribution of the high school to the projects of the SOS Children's Village Liechtenstein, Gymi For Change accompanying teacher Peter Mennel organized his annual "Cookies For Kids campaign" also for this purpose. On Friday, December 11, 2020, the students of class 2c visited offices and stores in Vaduz and Schaan and offered their homemade cookies in exchange for donations. Thereby the great amount of CHF 2050 was collected.

A big thank you goes to the students of Gymi For Change and class 2c and all their supporters for their great effort. Even in difficult times, they have not forgotten the need of people in other countries and to stand up for it.

Emma und Charlotte verkaufen Krömle

Charlotte and Emma's aunt celebrated her birthday. But since she decided not to receive any presents and asked her guests to support refugee children in Greece, Emma and Charlotte decided to bake and sell cookies for her. With heart and joy, the two girls baked delicious cookies and offered them for sale at their beautifully designed stand. Thus they were able to hand over the proud sum of CHF 200 to their aunt for the benefit of SOS Children's Village in Greece.

Cake campaign for SOS Children's Villages

It is wonderful when private individuals get involved for people in need. Even better when it is young people who bake cakes full of zest for action for children and families living in poverty. This is what happened at the Realschule Eschen.

Five committed girls from the Realschule Eschen (secondary school) carried out a great fundraising campaign on their own initiative in favour of SOS Children's Villages: On two days they created leeeeeeck cakes and sold them to their fellow pupils during the break.

In the end they were able to give us a fabulous CHF 450.00! They wished that this money would flow into our goat campaign 🐐🐐🐐 for the benefit of needy families in Ethiopia. "We wanted to do something for these children in need. We know that through SOS Children's Villages, this money is reaching the right place and we think it's cool that we can buy goats," says Elisa, one of the five girls.

15 families living in poverty will thus receive long-term and sustainable help - simply wonderful. Thanks to the committed and hard-working cake bakers!