Old Scholars Applaud Ukraine Initiative
The Mount School York, through its Foundation, is committed to supporting the Mount education of two pupils from Ukraine. The initiative was shared with Old Scholars in the May 2022 Newsletter.
The school has a rich history of supporting refugees and providing solace for those in troubled regions. The newsletter recounted episodes such as in 1914, when Mount girls prepared a house in Acomb for Belgian refugees, and in the 1990s when girls from the former Yugoslavia formed part of the School community. More recently, College girls undertook an initiative through their PeaceJam projects to send ‘LifeBags’ to child refugees in asylum processing centres in Northern Greece.
Hungary, 1956
Tricia Bateman, an old Scholar, wrote in to applaud The Mount’s initiative for supporting the family from Ukraine, and shared her testimony of how in her day the School came together to support a family during the Hungarian uprising.
I was at the Mount 1955-61 and during my second year in 1956 there was the Hungarian uprising and subsequent inpouring of refugees.
The whole School adopted a family for the year. Each academic year has allocated one member of the family. There were the parents and five children, which suited our seven academic years perfectly. We sent, if I recall correctly, a parcel a term to the family, which included things like shampoo, toothpaste etc but also presents for each member of the family.
My year was allocated one of the younger children and the idea was not just to raise and send money, but to do something more personal. We thus chose to knit a blanket, which was finally sewn together and backed with a fabric for warmth. This simple act made you think less about yourself, and more about others in less fortunate circumstances. For the Christmas parcel we also made a card for our child; one of the classes best artists hand painted it if I recall, but we all signed it.
I was pleased to hear of The Mount and The Mount Foundation supporting this initiative.
Principal David Griffiths said, “I am delighted, and also not surprised, that the entire Mount community is supporting this cause with such enthusiasm. It shows the school’s depth of character and heart. Enhancing our international outlook, promoting international networks and connections promotes the global society of the future whilst preparing our pupils for effective membership of such a world.”
To make a donation to the The Mount School York Foundation in support of this initiative or other fundraising, please use this Foundation Form Donation, or see our How to Donate page.