The Global Girl Gala got underway with an ice-breaking cocktail, where guests could mingle while buying raffle tickets and visiting the Silent Auction. On display were jaw-dropping works of globally themed art created by ECS students, under the guidance of mentors B.D. Sigel, Jeniene Birks ('90), Joel Chevalier and Sophie Beaulieu.

 

Guests then made their way into the ballroom, and browsed through the unique booklet designed by ECS parent Abbie Perkins for the Gala. From reproductions of the art to testimonials from ECS students who travelled abroad on community service trips, the booklet will make for a great keepsake.

 

Gala Co-Chairs Karen Anderson, Nathalie Andrade, Christina Miller, and Catherine Turner welcomed everyone, and launched the main programme with a video about Free the Children—the world’s largest network of children helping children through education--founded by brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger. 

 

As Head of School Katherine Nikidis explained in the speech that followed, ECS has formed an exciting partnership with Free The Children, which is part of a family of organizations (including Me to We and We Day) that share the goal of empowering a generation to shift the world from ‘me’ to ‘we’. The musical interlude that followed—a beautiful rendition of Imagine sung by Kira Macfarlane and Kassondra Kardos—captured the spirit of this initiative perfectly!

 

Following dinner, the programme continued with a presentation featuring those ECS students who earlier this year travelled to the Dominican Republic to help the Mariposa Foundation launch their new centre for girls. Free the Children ambassador Molly Burke echoed their thoughts about the transformative powers of this type of learning experience with a moving testimonial about her first trip to Kenya. She was thrilled to learn that thanks to Gala fundraising, ECS will be supporting a full scholarship for a deserving young lady to attend Free the Children’s Kisaruni Girls Secondary School in that country.

 

Everyone then sat back to enjoy the Global Girl video featuring and celebrating ECS students! The enthusiasm generated by the video and the evening to that point helped to build momentum for the Live Auction. Selwyn House School’s Headmaster and legendary auctioneer Hal Hannaford whipped up the crowd into some spirited bidding, all for a good cause.

 

Proceeds from the evening (final total To Be Announced) will support ECS’s Global Girl vision, engaging students with the world, and taking the School’s Non Nobis Sed Urbi et Orbi motto to new heights! The School would like to thank all of the Global Girl Gala volunteers, guests, sponsors, donors, and supporters for everything they have done for Miss Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School.
    
*Note: more photos to come.