Our school is a small Swiss Steiner-Waldorf school, based in Yverdon-les-Bains, in the northern part of the canton of Vaud, in a beautiful house surrounded by ancient trees. Our school welcomes about thirty children in primary education (classes 1-6) and another thirty in our two kindergartens, supported by seven teachers trained in the Steiner-Waldorf pedagogy.
Why do we need your help?
In 2016-17, our school went through an important crisis, leading to the departure of two teachers and a few families. This crisis has had important repercussions generally but mostly financially. Despite our significant efforts, which have helped to relieve the situation and to give the school a new start, we now have to rapidly gather the means to pay for four late rents and an overdue heating bill, traces of that difficult year, so as to avoid the closure of the school and its long-term survival (for more details, please see below).
Why help us today?
- Because, like the Phoenix, our school is rising from its ashes, with a renewed, motivated and dedicated team of Waldorf qualified teachers;
- Because new families have joined us, and many of the parents are very proactive and keen to see this wonderful place thrive for their children, with its amazing energy.
- Because we place great trust in our project’s success and that we do everything in our power to provide an alternative pedagogy to local parents looking for caring teaching, without pressures and where enthusiasm and the child’s development rule;
- Because what drives us is helping children grow into confident and independent adults, open-minded and capable of taking initiatives in tomorrow’s world.
What will my donation achieve?
As we want things to be clear, we would like to clearly outline our situation as well as the detail of what your donation will cover.
The costs of the crisis as well as the missing school fees have made a significant dent in our 2017-18 budget (€ 105'000.- / 120’000.- CHF), leading to significant delays in the settlement of some of the bills. We have now been able to cover a large part of this debt (env. € 70’000.- / 80’000.- CHF), thanks to the arrival of new families, the additional financial commitment of the parents as well as the teachers, to the reduction of some of our charges, to a new project involving renting out our premises and to exceptional gifts.
However, we still have four rents to catch-up on (4 x € 5’300.- / 6’000.- CHF) and the heating bill for 2017-18 (2 x € 7’000.- / 8’000.- CHF). The landlords of the building have even agreed to help us by lowering the rent long-term by € 1’300.- / 1’500.- CHF per month, but on condition that we pay our debt fast !! It is however, impossible for us to come up with that sum so quickly, having already tapped-into all our private resources to help with the crisis, which threatens our very existence. This is why we had the idea of appealing to the solidarity of families and friends from Steiner schools worldwide who will understand our desire to see our school live on and thrive!
If 2’000 people worldwide were to give € 15.- each, we would be able to guarantee our survival into the future ! If you want to be a part of this initiative, please don’t hesitate to make a donation now !
(We have deliberately chosen to ask for small donations so as not to overshadow other schools’ fundraising efforts but aiming to reach a vast number of participants!)
What if the gift amount to more than the sum needed?
That would enable us to guarantee a smooth transition and help us to build our project for the 100 years of Waldorf education: building a climbing wall and a big den with our classes 5 and 6 (with mostly recycled materials).
Our school
Our Yverdon Steiner school was founded 30 years ago. Despite a history with ups and downs, it has always found the necessary resources to carry on offering the Waldorf pedagogy to many children. The small size of our school offers a family-like environment which helps the children to blossom, in particular children who have experienced difficulties within the state educational system and who can renew their trust and enthusiasm for learning. Our park and our vegetable patch, which is biodynamic, allows the children to become aware of values concerning a respect of nature and he environment. If you wish to know more, please have a look at our website: www.ecolesteiner-yverdon.ch
Why help a Steiner school based in Switzerland ?
A request such as ours can seem surprising coming from a Swiss school… but even though we are located in a country deemed comfortable, our school receives no subsidies or financial help from the state or the local authorities. We are not even recognised as being of public service by our local authority, which is a serious hindrance for fundraising. The school fees are used to pay the rent of the premises and to pay the professors of the school, who are paid very little compared to the state system and who give a lot of their time on a voluntary basis. The parents also contribute greatly to the existence and running of the school.
The school fees are therefore very high despite being income-based, so as to cover all the costs incurred by the running of a school (fees from min. € 700.- / 800.- CHF to € 2'100.- / 2400.- CHF per month, which is high even in Switzerland…). The parents and friends of the school have already given as much as they could this year, which is why we are now obliged to look to for outside help to enable us to overcome this crisis and follow this new energy! Small drops make great rivers… (French proverb).
In advance, we give you our warmest thank you for your solidarity and help!
