As veterans of Mission Croatia 2012, we are coming together this year in a bid to make a difference to all the wonderful people we have met on this incredible journey.
Every year fundraising is planned by Mission Croatia volunteers and this year we are planning BIG!! We are organising a day where students and staff of Anglia Ruskin University (on all 4 campuses) come together to...
"Make a difference, wear your onesie"
We are asking you to come to Uni in your onesie (or pjs) and bring a donation of £1 (or more if you can spare it!). In exchange you will get a raffle ticket that enters you into a prize draw (includes seriously good designer gear), and most importantly you will be making a difference to people less fortunate than yourselves. All you need to do on the day is find one of the designated volunteers who will be around your University in their onesies (or pjs). They will be ready and waiting to collect your donation and enter you in the prize draw.
So where will your donation go? It goes towards the materials and supplies that are needed to make improvements to the various rehabilitation centres in Croatia for both adults and children that Mission Croatia works in. These improvements range from redecoration of rooms, making concrete ramps, through to basic client care. Regardless of the work that is undertaken we stand in the confident knowledge that every single job that is undertaken changes the lives of the clients and staff that live and work there.
If you want to be part of something amazing, that will enliven the community spirit both in and around your University and raise money for this fantastic cause then come and enjoy a day in your onesie on Tuesday 23rd April 2013. And please let us know you’re doing it by joining our Facebook page www.facebook.com/WearYourOnesie
While Mission Croatia has been going for 15 years our university has recently developed ICE (International Community Experience www.anglia.ac.uk/ice) to act as an umbrella for the different international trips. These include Mission Croatia, Mission Ukraine, and the prospect of a new project working with Maasai people in Kenya. As members of our University community, we need to work at raising the profile of the ICE project so that everyone is talking about it and knows of the good that it brings. But we don't want this to be something that will be confined within the University walls!! We want to extend it further afield to the local communities and will endeavour to do this with willing participants and the local press.
This event has the potential to be the first of many but can only reach that stage with the involvement of ARU students and staff that want to help and contribute to making a difference.
Helping us to shout out loud about our onesie day is the local shop Utopia (situated in Meadows Shopping Centre, Chelmsford) the very generous owner of the shop has not only donated a onesie as a raffle prize but he has also agreed that between 8th – 23rd April 2013 when a student from Anglia Ruskin buys ANYTHING within the shop (and produces their student card) 10% of that sale will be donated to Mission Croatia.
So tell your friends and colleagues "make a difference, wear your onesie", join our Facebook campaign at www.facebook.com/WearYourOnesie, and help the positive recognition that your Uni deserves through helping people who are less fortunate than us!
Amy Clough and Leanne Galbally.
Yr 2 BA (hons) Primary Initial Teacher Education students.
