The pupils of CEIP Luis Álvarez Cruz, located in Las Galletas (Arona), are set to deliver a lesson in compassion today with the establishment of a solidarity market, which will welcome visitors from 10 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon. The funds raised will be donated to Cáritas for distribution to those impacted by DANA in Valencia.
The school’s administration, pupils, educators, support staff, and parents are urging the local community to engage in this altruistic initiative that has garnered commitment from the educational body.
“The children are incredibly excited about this solidarity market; they have been buzzing with ideas for days on how to assist those affected by the floods, creating posters and selling raffle tickets in the streets,” emphasises María José Afonso. Feo, the school’s director, alongside Professor Carmen Rosa Torres, who are the architects of this charitable endeavour. They explained to this publication that the majority of the items available for purchase will be pre-loved goods, but there will also be Christmas decorations “with a Canarian flair,” which have been crafted by the pupils of Las Escuelas.
Additionally, students will offer raffle tickets for a chance to win a trip for two to La Gomera, including a vehicle, courtesy of Viajes Halcón.
Both the director and the educator highlighted the benefits that the participation of students, aged between 3 and 12 years, in the market will bring. “They will take on the roles of salespeople, which will enhance their oral communication skills, emotional intelligence, and even mathematical understanding,” they asserted.
COMPASSION FOR THE AFFECTED
Moreover, the educational community of CEIP Luis Álvarez Cruz underscores the significance of cultivating “empathy” in response to challenging situations like those faced by the citizens of Valencia. “We must endeavour to understand others, and what better time to do so than at Christmas, a season that embodies solidarity for all of us,” stated Afonso and Torres.
One week after the severe cold snap wreaked havoc across Valencian towns and cities, the fourth, fifth, and sixth-year pupils of this diverse Aronero school have already dispatched heartfelt letters of encouragement, intended for the Ministry of Education of the Canary Islands, so they can be sent to schools in the affected regions.
