Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Pyjamas Mission dreams of creating a better country for our children. There is a reality in our country that needs to change. In Portugal, almost 8,000 children live in institutions, by the decision of the Court or the Protection Commission. They represent more than 97% of children who live apart from their parents.
November 20th is the “National Pyjama Day”, which aims to mobilise the country for a cause: “the right of a child to grow up in a family”; while they are unable to return to their parents. When we change the way we think, the country changes. When many people change their way of thinking, the country changes faster.
In this context, all children from Year 1 to Year 5 are invited to come to school in their pyjamas on November 20th, in one of the following ways:
– Children travelling on school buses must wear their uniform and bring their pyjamas in a bag so that they can put them on at school.
– Children travelling with their parents/guardians can already come in their pyjamas and bring their uniform or not.
The initiative also has a charitable component.
It is much appreciated by children, schools, and families. The children receive a paper piggy bank from “Pyjamas’ House” and are invited to carry out their first solidarity mission. On November 20th, the children should bring their piggy banks back to school with the donations they have raised (even without any donations, they must return the piggy banks).
From an early age, they learn the values of friendship and sharing, helping the cause: “A child has the right to grow up in a family”. The small donations collected by the children with their families are delivered in their classrooms on National Pyjama Day.
Best regards,
The Project Coordinators
Soraia Silva, Daniela Sousa and Filomena Martins
EITV, November 9th, 2023
