Friends from Zwolle Municipality (Netherlands) participate in the repairs of Pilda School

In the middle of July, Pilda Basic School in Ludza municipality hosted a delegation of visitors from the charity organization “Let’s go! Wijhe” in Zwolle, Netherlands, for one week. Herman Scholten represented the organization. The Dutch friends did repair work in the premises of the school.

Cooperation between Pilda Basic School and representatives from Netherlands started already in Autumn 2015 when representatives of the charity organization visited our school for the first time bringing with them furniture, benches for students, sport clothing for children at different ages and other items necessary for the school. We could only dream about it in our country school since purchase of such goods for school budget would be impossible in such a short period.

Within the framework of cooperation, representatives of the Netherlands kindly offered their help during the summer time when there is a possibility to repair school premises. We chose particular rooms and toilet facilities for repairs, took necessary measurements and photos. For several months, we maintained communication with our partners in Netherlands, and finally came the time for implementation of our plans.

On 9 July, representatives of Pilda Basic School and people of the village gladly welcomed our cooperation partners from Netherlands. A team of 31 people arrived in a big modern bus, and activities started in the school premises, which lasted for a whole week. Such a big delegation from a EU country and with such a purpose of visit were hosted in the walls of the school for the first time. There was certain worry about the process of realization of this cooperation project, amount of work and other issues. However, the time passed by so fast, and certain goals for the improvement of the school environment were reached.

The Dutch with their own materials and resources accomplished decoration of four rooms and repairs of two toilet facilities. Foreigners brought several almost new computers and mounted them in the information science room, which has changed beyond recognition. They changed lamps and improved the floor covering, as well as presented and mounted two unusual swings in the children playground. The biggest investment of our guests, which was an unexpected surprise for us, was in the room for domestic science: in the new school year, students will be able to cook in a modern room (new ovens and other equipment). Guests not only worked hard but also enjoyed their free time. During the tour to Ludza, they met the chairperson of the Council of Ludza Municipality Mrs Alīna Gendele. She kindly thanked the organization “Let’s go Wijhe” for cooperation and wished them “to button themselves to Ludza thoroughly and be aware of their place in time, and fill the time with good works for people’s sake”.                                                  

Administration and staff of Pilda Basic School together with parents and students of the school express a great gratitude to our cooperation partners from Netherlands for their unselfish investment in the improvement of the environment in a country school of Ludza municipality, and are looking forward to the continuation of our cooperation.

This visit resulted in new friends, new experience, and great improvements for the municipality – particularly for the school and inhabitants of the village.

We also appreciate help and understanding of the administrator of Pilda rural municipality Pēteris Trukšāns, school pedagogues and other people who were involved in the work during the visit of our friends!

Headmaster of Pilda Basic School Jurijs Zeļčs