Children at Holy Trinity Sunday School, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex have raised just over £500 for the Bhopal Medical Appeal and presented a cheque to Charity Administrator Georgina le Clercq and colleagues Farah Edwards and Jade van Drie-Brown on Sunday 29 January.
We took the opportunity to make a short presentation to the children about the ongoing disaster in Bhopal followed by a workshop showing them how to make giant marigolds from recycled plastic carrier bags.
The children voted the BMA their charity of choice in 2011 and raised money by staging a variety of fundraising initiatives such as cake sales and special events throughout the year. Smartie tubes were used as a convenient way to collect coins.
Commenting on the money raised, John Joyce, Rector of Holy Trinity Church said; “The terrible disaster in Bhopal seemed to strike a chord with the children at Holy Trinity, particularly when they learnt that in Bhopal children continue to be born with deformities and other medical problems. It is for these children and the survivors that over £500 was raised”.
See Below for instructions on how to make recycled carrier bag marigolds.
1. Lay your plastic bag flat and cut off the handles at the top and the base.
2. Cut down one edge and lay out flat. Lay 8 bags neatly on top of each other.
3. Keeping all the bags neatly on top of each other, fold them backwards and forwards in a concertina type fold so the flat part is approx. 5cms across. Do this until it is all folded then secure firmly with a thin piece of wire keeping the folds flat.
4. With scissors, trim a curve onto the ends of your flat folded plastic to neaten the ends and give your flower beautifully shaped petals.
5. Open out one side of your folded plastic into a fan shape then start to tease out each layer until it opens up and starts to form your flower shape.
6. Repeat with the other side and then you will have a gorgeous recycled plastic bag marigold!
GOOD LUCK and have fun!
