The past two years has been hard on all of us. From one day to the next, we went from what seemed like a perfectly normal day to everything turning into Covid. From constant lockdowns, quarantines, cancelled plans, and adjustments in the classrooms, these past two years have been challenging. We are also aware of how much worse it could have been for us as a school community. Yes, adjustments had to be made, not all students could return to Switzerland from their home countries to attend classes in-person, and we have all had our share of Covid related illnesses or stories of infections. Nevertheless, through it all, we here at BSL remain grateful for the opportunities we have been given and the continued ability to serve our students.
It was in this spirit that during the Fall and Winter term, we wanted to give back to our community and to those who may have been impacted more than others during this difficult time. Through the help of our students, faculty, and staff, we were able to support two different local charities.
During the month of November, BSL conducted a food drive for Cartons Du Coeur. A local charity whose mission is to “Provide assistance to people in need”. Our students, faculty, and staff donated over 3 large crates of nonperishable food to Cartons Du Coeur.
In December, BSL collected donations from its community in the form of sanitary products, chocolates and other treats for the women shelter, Fondation Malley Prairie, that is in close vicinity to our school. Our donations were shared with the women and children who are currently beneficiaries of the Foundation, before Christmas.
The Malley Prairie foundation (https://malleyprairie.ch) has a more than a 40-year long history in helping and supporting women and children victim of domestic violence.
Malley Prairie started its activities long before the Istanbul Convention of 2011 aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
According to UN WOMEN, one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner. The same entity of the United Nations mentions that since the “outbreak of COVID-19, emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified”. (https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19).
We here at BSL continue to count our blessings and hope that for the upcoming year we can continue to count on you to give back to the community.
