Help us get our new School Bus to Greece!

Aim

We are raising money to establish our new School Bus in Greece, where we'll be partnering to provide trauma-aware education

You may have noticed there's no video yet? It's coming at the end of our first week - check back here for updates! 

WHAT'S HAPPENING? 

There is an entire generation who are having their educational and life opportunities denied to them. 

Across Greece, tens of thousands of children and young people live in terrible conditions in refugee camps, with little or no access to education. 

WHY IS EDUCATION SO IMPORTANT FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE? 

Save The Children have found that:

- Educational activities for refugees and migrant children are needed in transit contexts, as well as in reception centres

- The typical schooling model needs to be adjusted to the transit context

- Access to psychosocial support and non-formal educational opportunities leads to positive changes in a child’s behaviour

The School Bus Project was created in 2015 by people with a passion for education and for helping people to access it as they live in desperate situations as refugees and migrants. 

Since 2017, we have been working continuously in Northern France, where over 2,000 learning interactions have taken place; more than 70 volunteers have given their time; we have worked with people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Libya.

A snapshot of our work in Northern France:

WHAT'S OUR PLAN TO HELP SUPPORT REFUGEE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTHERN GREECE?

We are now ready for the next step in our journey to help provide educational opportunities for children and young people: partnering with Second Tree to provide trauma-aware educational opportunities for children and young people in the Epirus region of Northern Greece.

We want to take a newly refurbished double-decker bus - 'Big Blue' down to the Epirus Region of Northern Greece to work in three different refugee camps in the area.

The bus has been specifically renovated to provide a safe, calm, trauma-aware environment for the children and young people the School Bus Project - Second Tree volunteers will work with.

 - Downstairs: this has been set up as a 'children's centre'. Early years education, with a strong emphasis on learning through play; space for babies; a safe space for parents to sit and talk; a sink; even a sandpit!!

- Upstairs: this has been divided into classrooms. Structured sessions, at tables or seated on the floor; 1:1 and small small group; a quiet space for peace and calm or 1:1 support; educational resources. These spaces can be for primary-age or secondary-age children and for parent - focussed sessions.

WE CAN'T GET THE BUS THERE WITHOUT YOUR HELP:

The need is there NOW. With your help, we can get our bus to Northern Greece and start our work with Second Tree at the end of February 2019. 

Together, we need to raise funds for:

- TRANSPORTING our AMAZING 'Big Blue' bus from Folkestone to Greece. Costs include fuel, insurance and drivers' needs (i.e. food)

- TRAINING for existing and new volunteers in Greece: Costs include travel for SBP staff, accommodation, and training resources 

- BURSARIES FOR VOLUNTEERS for an initial three month period

WHAT WILL YOUR MONEY BUY?

£10 will buy: a book for the bus, such as: 

£20 will buy: a 'learning through play' resource, such as: 

£50 will buy: a half day's training session for one volunteer (we ask only for costs for our trainers)

£100 will buy: a day's running costs for the bus, for up to 120 children and young people

£200 will buy: a bursary for one of our volunteers to work in Greece for a month

EVERY SINGLE CONTRIBUTION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED: 

For those able to give more, we have a tiered system of recognition:

Bronze: For those who give £50, we will recognise you in our newsletter and social media

Silver: For those who give £100, we will recognise you in our website, social media and permanently on our website (including your company if this is where the money has come from)

Gold: For those who give £200 or more, we will recognise you on our plaque inside the bus

Our core team:

Jon O'Connor: Trustee and Project Logistic Lead

 Hal Thompson: Northern France Programme Lead    

Rowena Gerrett: Partnerships and Funding Lead

Thank you so much for supporting us - our heartfelt thanks to you

This project successfully funded on 5th February 2019