NEWS FOR WOMEN TRAINING SCHOOL IN GREECE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26397, 16 April 1951, Page 2

NEWS FOR WOMEN TRAINING SCHOOL IN GREECE

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT An ambitious scheme of training for Greek village girls is being operated successfully in Salonika by the Quaker organisation, the Friends Service Council. New Zealand has a special interest in the progress of this school, as CORSO is giving £2OOO to the project. The school, known as the Salonika Domestic Science School, was begun in 1945, with the aim of training young Greek girls for country life. The idea was to provide good food, which the girls would learn to ccok themselves, a healthy background, and an education which would not only develop their minds but help them to run their homes and farms.

The original plan was to give a year’s schooling to 40 girls from 14 to 16 years. Low standards of health and education, however, soon made it clear that a second year would be necessary. Several girls were orphans; many had lost one of their parents in the civil war; all were in bad health. Good food and a sense of freedom from strain rapidly improved the girls’ health, but the most striking change was in their minds and outlook. By 194” the headmistress could write: gradually freedom from strain and the friendly note of all school relationships give a feeling of security; new friends are made and a happy community built up. From the beginning it was made clear that politics would not be discussed. The ideal of service to the village gives a purpose in which all can combine. The responsibilities of committee work teach lessons which prepare the way for wider service, and help to develop the art of living peaceably together. Educationally great progress has been made. Coming from villages which have been without schools for several years, or from schools where one teacher has up to 140 pupils, the girls are quick to seize opportunities of learning. Lady Norton, wife of the British Ambassador in Greece, has taken a particular interest in the school. Lady Norton is also sponsoring the Village Adoption Scheme in Greece which CORSO is helping through securing the adoption of Greek villages ana towns by New Zealand towns and organisations. School Commended Writing of the school, Lady Norton says: “Nowhere have I been more struck by the realistic conception of the needs of the people who are to be helped, and the fitness of the means adopted, than in the Domestic Science School in Salonika. To mention science, when one is thinking in terms of training little peasant girls for their home fife in remote Greek villages sounds in itself over ambitious. But the main object—a scientific one—a practical, realistic training of high efficiency is just what this school is achieving. “Nd equipment is used other than that the children will find at hand on their return home. The standards set for cooking, laundry, gardening, hygiene, dressmaking, infant feeding are all such as can be reached without electricity, gas, running hot and cold water, grass mowers and hoses.” “Girls come to 'the school from villages in which a member of one family has murdered a member of another. In Domestic Science School these girls live and work together and learn to make friends. They return for their holidays and continue friendships already formed. Where family feuds have become a tradition which has been ruthlessly exploited in the name of political ideologies, the planting of such seeds gives promise of a rich harvest in generations to come. “The other aspect of the work which gave me special satisfaction was the close co-operation between the Domestic Science School, run by the British girls, and the American Farm School for boys which is working a few hundred yards away. These are practical politics worth tons of newspaper articles not only for the children in the two schools, but also for the workers and as a demonstration to the outside world of how peoples of different lands and outlooks can and should work together. “If I could choose among all the methods of reconstruction which are being worked out hi Greece to-day. this is the one par excellence that 1 would wish to see repeated in every corner of the country.”

CURRENT NOTES

Miss Naomi Andrew, of recently arrived in London for. a year’s “working holiday,” says the London correspondent of “The Press.” She hopes to take a position as a Karitane nurse in London for a few weeks before visiting relatives in the north of England. Later, with two other Karitane nurses, Misses Margaret Thompson, of Oxford, North Canterbury, and Miss Betty Anderson, of Hawke’s Bay, she plans to see as much of the Continent as she can. Another Otago nurse visiting Britain to‘gain experience is Miss Frances Galvin, of St. Kilda. At present she and a nursing friend, Miss Celia Blaker, of Lower Hutt, are touring in Britain. Later they plan to take hospital positions.

The need to continue to send food parcels to England was emphasised by Lady Wigram, who addressed the twelfth annual meeting of the Balcairn sub-centre of the Red Cross Society. Miss Mehrtens, who also addressed the meeting, spoke of the aims and work of the Junior Red Cross, and asked for pieces of material and wool to help the children with their work. During the year members helped with the shop day appeal and had given £2 to the Empire Nurses’ War Memorial Fund, £3 for material .or overseas children's garments, and £3 was sent to the special appeal for Red Cross work. The following officers’were elected: president, Mrs A. R. Turnbull; vicepresident, Mrs J. Smith; secretarytreasurer, Mrs W. Dermott.

A demonstration on decoration was given by Mrs R. K. Merton who was the guest speaker at the April meeting of the St. Martins-Opawa Garden Club, which was held at the home of Mrs E. J. Corcoran, Hawford road, Mrs W. O. Chapman presided. Competitions for the month resulted as follows: table arrangement of fruit, flowers and berries, A section, Mrs C. T. McAlloon 1. Mrs J. E. Newson 2; B section, Mrs T. M. Stanton; vase of geraniums (open), Mrs Ewart Smith 1, Mrs S. Clark 2. Assistant hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Kilpatrick, J. M. Johnstone and R. Kent. A proposal for the exchange of Red Cross voluntary aids between Australia and New Zealand was approved at the recent Dominion council meeting in Wellington. The project will be submitted to the Dominion council of the New Zealand Red Cross Society for its consideration. It is proposed that one or two aids from each country exchange from the summer of 1951-52. (P.A)

This is the year of “le grande decolette"... never have shoulders been more in evidence. Cyclax gives a neck and shoulders massage which leaves the skin in perfect condition. Make a booking at Ballantyne’s, and wear your off-the-shoulder gown with perfect confidence. —Advt. COOKING Experts say HANSELL'S CLOUDY ESSENCES are best because the flavours are always true, never vary in strength or quality. Use HANSELL'S CLOUDY ESSENCES, New Zealand's best.

Always see the window at The Gloucester Jewel Box before buying new watches, cameos, pearls or diamond rings, and satisfy yourself that they are the best value in Christchurch. The address is 113 Gloucester street, three doors from Hay’s.

ENGAGEMENTS

The engagement is announced of Margaret Kerr, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs C. W. Yates, city, to Neil Joseph Nevin, only son of Mrs Lynda A. Cook and the late Captain Frank J. Cook, Papanui. The engagement is announced of Catherine Tempest Barring, only daughter of Mr and Mrs H. W. B. Gould, Otumoetai, Tauranga, to John Elderson, son of Mr and Mrs D. E. Millar, Leinster road, Christchurch.