Robert Streibel - by Nigel A JAMES
The Year of the Gherkin
Running a school for adults is not
only planning and scheming, it is listening as well. And when Robert
Streibel, the director of the Hietzing VHS in Vienna discovered that
gherkins were changing hands in one of his classes he was interested.
But then, after finding out why he went into action.
Robert found out that Brigitte
Böckman, one of the school's students was actively involved in a
movement called Direkthilfe Roma, a project for helping hard-up
Romany families in neighbouring Slovakia. And it was all to do with
the growing of gherkins! Brigitte was helping by selling the Romany
gherkins! And, Robert felt he could help, too. And, so the Year of
the Gherkin was born.
And now the entire school
is involved. Students and teachers are not only including the theme
of gherkins in their lessons, they are buying and eating them, too.
And not only once, but again and again! And all for the very good
price of 2.60 Euros per jar. But, of course, there is a story and it
all began in a field near the village of Hostice in 2008.
With just a little encouragement
from Direkthilfe:Roma, one or two families started growing gherkins.
And, within just three very short months more than 2500 jars had been
sold. A tremendous success! And it is hardly surprising! When it
comes to gherkins and herbs Romany families simply know best. They
have, after-all, been producing them for years with their own
traditional recipes. And now, with more and more families involved,
the number of jars full of these sensational crispy experiences have
risen to more than 12.000 a year! A real sensation! And, thanks to
the Year of the Gherkin it's hopefully set to get better!
And finally to quote Robert
Streibel, 'We get the best and most delicious gherkins on earth, and
the Romany families get our support!' What could be better?
And,
Diarikom is helping, too! If you would like to join in with the fun,
all you have to do is to draw or paint a gherkin and send it to me.
I will be publishing and making a donation to Direkthilfe Roma for
every work I receive. And, not only that! Each picture will be
printed out and displayed in the VHS in Hietzing, too!
You
can either take your pictures directly to the VHS in Hietzing in
Vienna, or you can mail them to me at the following address,-
diariworld@gmail.com
We, of course will be posting them as soon as they arrive.
The
VHS Hietzing – www.vhs.at/13-vhs-hietzing.html
For
more information concerning Direkthilfe Roma please visit their
homepage,- www.direkthilferoma.at
