Lynmore Primary School makes a difference

In 2008 Lynmore Primary School introduced a schoolwide program called 'Making a difference.'  Children were asked to study a developing country in depth and, at the end of the program, to organize an art auction of their work to raise money for a charity that would assist people in their chosen country.

Lynmore Primary’s Middle School chose FHFNZ as it operates in many developing countries and gave each class the opportunity to choose a different country. 

Room 8 decided on Papua New Guinea (their teacher had been a pilot there with the Missionary Aviation Fellowship in 1996 and 1997). The children then researched Papua New Guinea (PNG) – the medical and living conditions there – and the work of FHFNZ.

Room 8 is a digital class and the children decided to produce some digital artwork for the auction in the form of an 'emotive video advertisement' to encourage people to donate money for their artwork and to their charity of choice.  Room 8’s teacher, Andrea Tapsell, noted: “The video required the children to use the information they had learnt about Papua New Guinea and The Fred Hollows Foundation in a new and meaningful way.  They had to think about how to convey messages about the conditions in PNG, the Foundation’s work there and how donations might help the local people.”

At the end of term, parents, grandparents, whanau and others were invited to come and view the children’s work.  Their videos were played during the visit and visitors 'donated' money for their children's art portfolios.  These portfolios contained a variety of artwork on PNG and blindness, as well as the video. 

To view one of the videos produced by Lynmore School Room 8, please visit us on youtube .

See what other schools are doing, or how you can Make a Spectacle of Yourself