Thanks to Salem’s pupils in the fifth and sixth grades it will soon be really buzzing in Africa. They are participating in a world-wide service project among Round Square schools that aims to collect funds for one million beehives. In their lessons this epoch everything revolves around the Round Square IDEALS (Internationalism · Democracy · Environmentalism · Adventure · Leadership · Service). The pupils are discovering where these concepts can be found in Salem. In small interclass groups they discuss and compile their observations: where do we find internationality and cosmopolitanism? Where can we practice democracy in the fifth and sixth grades? How do we learn to value and protect our environment? During what activities do we venture to go beyond ourselves and show leadership qualities by helping and listening to one another? In what areas do we offer ourselves in service to the community?

In this way the idea of serving becomes a very tangible one. From here we can connect ourselves with the world and take part in the highly ambitious international project, “A million beehives for families in Africa affected by poverty” that was initiated by Lesego Serolong. With only 35,000 South African Rand (2190 euros), one person can be equipped with 20 beehives, bee-keeping equipment and the requisite skills and know-how. In this way a South African family becomes a beekeeping one and is thus able to earn a sustainable income. On the other hand, the project contributes to the preservation of these important insects. Further information can be found here

Our students took a vote to decide which fundraising ideas they wanted to devote themselves to. Now they are busily working on handicrafts such as crocheted bees as lucky charms, or bookmarks decorated with bees, and various delicacies made with honey and seeds. The finished products will be sold within the school community and on Parents’ Day. With the proceeds we hope to be able to finance many, many beehives.

Nina Peters und Anke Laur, Teacher Team 5 & 6