What inspired this fairy tale? This fairy tale is the story of Project LINC through the eyes and voice of young Greek students. It is an example of how kids who live an ocean apart can realize the power of using one united voice to make a difference in our world. As we all know fairy tales are sometimes true stories‌and this fairy tale is a true story, too‌ In January 2015, students from The School Master (Trikala, Greece) and students from Andover Middle School (Kansas, USA) decided to collaborate to launch Project LINC (projectlinc.clubefl.gr) with the goal of making the world a better place to live for their friends in Nairobi, Kenya. Their goal was to find solutions to the water contamination problem in Nairobi. Students in both countries worked hard in their classes and learned as much as they could about life in Kenya. They researched, organized fund-raising, created water filters using materials commonly found in Kenya, gave presentations, and participated in many other learning activities as documented on the Project LINC website. They used Skype to collaborate between schools and to connect with LifeStraw water filter manufactured by Vestergaard. 2
As a result of this innovative project, work, initiative, and passion demonstrated by these students, LifeStraw water filter manufactured by Vestergaard partnered with us during a group Skype call in February 2015 and offered seven LifeStraw Community filters for Havilla Children’s Center and for Cheery Education Center in Nairobi, Kenya. This will provide clean water for 525 children. Microsoft’s Skype in the Classroom supported the project by making a documentary about the incredible work of these students. Proceeds of this book will be used towards the purchase of Family LifeStraw filters for the families of Havilla Children’s Center and Cheery Education Centre students in Nairobi, Kenya. Thank you “Iro Stefopoulou”
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About the authors and the illustrators Written by:
Fifteen young students of English as a foreign language from Trikala, Greece worked as a team to document the story of Project LINC as a fairy tale. And, indeed, the entire experience has been a fairy tale come true! They volunteered to work extra hours at their school in order to write this heartfelt story for a project that changed the lives of many children around the world.
These students inlude:
Chris Tsiamanis, Dimitra Ntoga, Dimitris Koustelios, Faye Karaiskou, Ralia Gantzoula, Renia Chantziparasidi, Stella Stafyla, John Panayiotopoulos, Vassilis Anastasiou, Natalie Magou, Evelyn Radou, Kapsalis, Markella Argyropoulou, Marilia Nasioka, Antonis Kostarellos
Under the unstoppable guidance of their teacher Iro Stefopoulou. Illustrated by two 12-year-old members of the writing team: Dimitra Ntoga and Stella Stafyla, contributed to the whole project by producing amazing illustrations for the story with all their love and enthusiasm. 4
This fairy tale is dedicated to our friends at Andover Middle School in Kansas, Havilla Children’s Center & Cheery Education Centre in Nairobi and Skype in the Classroom, who made the distance between our schools smaller and helped us realize our dreams.
Because ream an idea, a d oice dv e t i n u r u o and e h t e g n a h c can world 5
Once upon a flower time… …the countries of the world were beautiful rose-gardens…. 6
While the grown ups were fully blossomed roses, the children were cute little rosebuds.
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Each rose-garden was a different color.
There was the blue rose-garden, the red rose-garden, the yellow rose-garden, the orange rose-garden, the purple rose-garden‌ 8
Each rose-garden was located at a different spot of our land.
One garden, the blue one, was somewhere near the sea. The kids enjoyed the sea breeze and they swam, surfed and played on the beach after school.
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The orange rosebuds were not happy any longer.
They had a lready started withering and drooping… their color was fading and they did not feel like playing or studying… things got rea lly serious…
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The other rosebuds were rea lly sad and wanted to help. The flower teachers joined together on a Skykite meeting and decided to take action‌ What could they do? 21
First, the blue rose-garden created a bugsite to tell the other rose-gardens about the water problem in the orange garden.
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All these efforts started from a sma ll idea which grew bigger and bigger‌. and everyone around the flower world was wi lling to help. 31
We would like to thank all those who believed in us, inspired us, helped us realize our dream and followed us in this unforgettable journey... Thank you for the purchase of this book and supporting Project L.I.N.C
Special thanks to: Kate Klein Microsoft’s Skype in the Classroom Microsoft Hellas Meryl Rader & Vesteergard Company Stacey Ryan Dimitris Aivazoglou (clubefl) Nikos Tsiolis (graphic designer)
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Aphrodite Katsiakou who encouraged and supported us.
Finally, many thanks to our teacher... Iro Stefopoulou!!! “The writing & illustrating team” 34
A few words about the book A lovely and inspirationa l story written with kindness. A joy to read.
Kate K lein,
Skype in the Classroom Community Outreach Director
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What do you do when people, anima ls or flowers need help? How do you feel when someone needs you? Wi ll you take action? Wi ll you dare to care?
Because YOU can change the world and the world’s future is in your hands‌