Following a fire at the Junglinster primary school, health authorities have strongly recommended discarding items contaminated by smoke – including several World Cup sticker albums.
The fire broke out in the boys' toilets in mid-June. Although it was highly localised, it caused an estimated €350,000 in damage, Junglinster Mayor Ben Ries told RTL in an interview at the end of June.
The smoke, in particular, contaminated a large number of items. Health authorities therefore advised throwing away anything that could not be thoroughly cleaned. Alongside clothes, shoes, and school bags, this also affected one student's Panini album, a loss he lamented to RTL.
After reading the article on RTL, one reader suggested launching an appeal for donations.
RTL subsequently learned that not one, but 15 albums had been destroyed. As neither the local council nor the school raised any objections to a small act of solidarity, the appeal was launched – notably on social media – and met with considerable success.
In recent days, the Junglinster school has received the equivalent of an entire month's worth of envelopes, much to the surprise of one teacher. "There were also many lovely messages", the teacher said.
"We received one completely full album, another half-full album, seven empty albums, and even stickers still in their packaging. The envelopes ranged from those containing a single sticker to others with over a hundred", the teacher added.
The response, the teacher said, has been "incredibly kind". Starting on Monday, the children affected will be able to collect their stickers and albums, she added.
"They can't wait! A huge thank you to all the lovely donors, as well as to RTL, who made this initiative possible", the teacher said.
Health authorities have explained how such cases are handled. In the case of the Junglinster school fire, a "strong recommendation" was issued advising the destruction of smoke-affected items.
This guidance is based on an assessment of potential health risks: after a fire, objects exposed to smoke and heat – particularly those for which decontamination from toxic substances cannot be guaranteed – pose a health hazard, especially to children.
As it was only a recommendation, it would theoretically have been possible to recover some belongings despite potential contamination, the National Health Directorate confirmed to RTL.
The very day after the fire, the Ministry of Health had detailed its approach and set out the reasons behind the measures it was taking.
Those wishing to support Junglinster students by donating Panini World Cup stickers, whether duplicates or no longer needed, can still do so by sending them to the school at the following address:
Lënster Schoul
20-22, rue du Village
L-6140 Junglinster
Potential donors are advised not to delay too long, as the school year ends on 15 July. The school is also organising a sticker swap this coming Friday, 10 July.
