Three Little Pigs Ballet Fundraiser for CAFOD

Recently, Saint Christina's School in St John's Wood, north London, was visited by Judy Dixey, a Schools Ambassador for CAFOD to lead an assembly. It was based on the story of The Three Little Pigs, linking it to the devastating big wind (typhoon) in the Philippines a couple of years back. Her assembly was interactive and funny and captured the children's imagination. She explained that CAFOD believes everyone in the world has a right to live a good life regardless of race, culture or religion and that the work of CAFOD is to fight poverty and injustice in the world and to help in partnership wherever there is need, both in emergencies and for the long-term. She invited the children to be creative and find a way to raise funds.

Two of the girls in Year Six, along with the charity prefects, put their heads together and at lunchtime on the same day, approached their Headteacher, Jenny Finlayson. They asked if they could organise an assembly fundraiser using the theme of The Three Little Pigs put to ballet. Their teacher Fr Rudolf commented: "As long as they are exercising their creativity and putting it to good effect, their minds are growing and developing. Besides, this will help the children to appreciate that much more, the role CAFOD has in promoting justice worldwide."

The girls then involved everyone in the class with script writing, choreography, music accompaniment, costume design, props, set design, ballet performers, makeup artists, fund collectors and communicators. They organised the rehearsals outside class time, and even overcame obstacles in the final week, as three of the main characters were away; a final rehearsal was scheduled before school on the day of their assembly.

And on Monday, 20 November 2017 they pulled it off, and produced a wonderful ballet for the whole school community with parents present as well.

The children were all asked to dress up in pig colours and make a donation so that they could all be involved. Ms Finlayson commented: "these Year 6 girls are an amazing group of proactive, independent, creative learners, who showed great initiative and were prepared take risks while working collaboratively to produce this wonderfully original, ballet fundraiser assembly. Above all, they really believe it is their duty to make a difference and help a needy family secure an income and help themselves. They epitomise the ethos of our school perfectly. I am so proud of them all.' Judy Dixey, who was also present at the assembly commented 'It was a delightful morning, most inspiring; they are a great example to us all. CAFOD has suggested the girls send a message about their support to the village of Daganas, which was the focus of the story."

By their efforts, the girls have raised £400 for CAFOD.