The schools selected need school supplies and backpacks and so the students are collecting gently used or new backpacks to give to the school children. They seek school supplies that are geared towards ages 5 to 16.
During their spring break from April 11 to 21, the students will pack the school supplies and backpacks into their suitcases and travel to Israel and Palestine with the 2013 Tree of Life Journey, a program of the Tree of Life Educational Foundation. The students will join 18 other travelers to visit these schools. They will also meet with those in Israel and Palestine who have distinguished themselves as Jewish, Muslim and Christian voices of conscience and peace.
Abigail Cipparone attends Lyme-Old Lyme High School while Anyssa Dhaouadi is a student at New London Science and Tech High School and Lia Scala is at the Fisher’s Island School. Isabella and Leland Hine go to Lyme Consolidated School.
In addition to school supplies and backpacks, Tamer Alshouri, a Palestinian musician and teacher at the Shepherd’s Field School, indicated that his school needs musical instruments. Alshouri, who performed at the 2012 Tree of Life Conference in Old Lyme with musicians from the Berklee College of Music, suggested a Syrian Qanun for the school. The student travelers are seeking monetary donations to purchase the Syrian Qanun, which costs around $1,200.
“During my travels to Palestine last year, I saw how much the children I met appreciate things we find ordinary in the United States, like school supplies, backpacks and musical instruments,” said Abigail Cipparone. “I hope through these gifts from our local community, we can show how much we care about students living in difficult conditions.”
Those who wish to contribute funds to this project are requested to send a check payable to TOLEF to:
Tree of Life Educational Fund
c/o The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme
2 Ferry Road
Old Lyme, CT 06371
Contributors should put in the memo portion of the check: “PACKS FOR PEACE”
All contributions are tax deductible. Backpacks and school supplies can be donated at either the Second Congregational Church of New London or the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.