Georgia's Class

21 Μαρτίου 201410 Δεκεμβρίου 2019

A poem against racism

21 March is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (proclaimed by United Nations in 1966), a day when people around the world show their opposition to racism. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the Apartheid regime (a regime which embraced racial discrimination). The same day, however, was also declared World Poetry Day by UNESCO in 1999. The purpose of the day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world.

(Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_for_the_Elimination_of_Racial_Discrimination

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Poetry_Day)

In order to celebrate this special day, three of my students, Sofia, Zoe and Sotiria, helped me write a poem against racism. Here it is:

It doesn’t matter

It doesn’t matter

What colour your skin is,

As long as you stand

By my side

It doesn’t matter

What your origin is,

Because your heart

Beats like mine

It doesn’t matter

What your religion is,

As long as I know

You respect mine

We both breathe the same air,

We both have a red heart,

My friend

It doesn’t matter

What language you speak,

As long as your eyes

Are true

And it doesn’t matter

What God you believe in,

As long as you pray

For me too.

We share the same earth

We share the same sky,

My friend

And nothing else matters,

My friend

17 Μαρτίου 201417 Μαρτίου 2014

What would you think if you saw this 99-year-old man begging?

You would probably feel sorry for him, having to beg at that age. However, Bulgarian Dobri Dimitrov Dobrev, also known as Grandpa Dobri or Elder Dobri, is not an ordinary beggar. He walks several kilometers every day to sit in front of the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Sofia to beg for money. But what really makes the difference is that he doesn’t keep any of this money for himself! What does he do with it then? He gives it all to charities, orphanages, churches and monasteries, while he manages to live with only an 80 euros pension a month!

Elder Dobri, who will be 100 years old on 20^th July 2014, has lived through both world wars. His father died in World War I, and in one of the bombings of Sofia during World War II, a shell fell near him and he lost almost all his hearing.

Around year 2000, he decided to donate all his belongings to the church and now he lives in a small extension to the church “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” in the village of Baylovo. Over the years, “the saint of Baylovo”, as many people call him, has donated every single penny he has collected, which makes over 40,000 euros! A true saint? In our material world, Grandpa Dobri is definitely a role model for everyone.

8 Μαρτίου 201417 Μαρτίου 2014

Women have the power!

Emmeline Pankhurst, a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. Here, she is arrested by police outside Buckingham Palace in May 1914.

On 8^th March every year, women all around the world celebrate International Women’s Day. It is a day to remember the struggles of women for social and political rights and equality.

A bit of history…

The idea of an International Women’s Day dates back to the turn of the 20^th century. At that time, factory workers in many countries protested over bad working conditions and low wages. On 8^th March 1857 women from clothing factories organised one such protest in New York City. In 1910, the first international women’s conference in Copenhagen established an International Women’s Day to celebrate the movement for women’s rights and to help gain women’s right to vote. In Russia demonstrations on International Women’s Day were the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917.

So how do women celebrate International Women’s Day?

In most countries around the world on Women’s Day, men give their mothers, wives, girlfriends, etc. flowers or gifts. Women’s groups around the world organise different events, such as political rallies, theatrical performances, fashion shows and more. In some countries of the former Soviet Union, such as Russia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, it is an official holiday!

A women's rally in India on International Women’s Day. — A women’s rally in India on International Women’s Day.

What about the future?

Women have won many battles over the years. But there is still a long way to go. Equal opportunities to work and education are still a dream for millions of women. Organisations, such as the The Girl Effect (www.girleffect.org), help women around the world make this dream come true.

Do women really have the power to change the world? Watch the video and say if you agree!