November 21st, 2014

Woodland Park Public School‘s global initiatives over the past two years have had far-reaching impacts.

Their first campaign, called “Bracelets for Books,” raised $5,000 and provided “seed” money to build a community library in the city of Assella, Ethiopia. The money was used to purchase two Samsung tablets each loaded with 100 books, three computers, Internet access, a flat-screen TV and a projector, comfy couches and shelves. Woodland Park PS and the library was featured in a recent newsletter by the non-profit organization CH Global, the organization building the library and where Woodland donated their money. Visit CH Global’s Winter 2014 newsletter to read the article.

A cupcake bake sale was the school’s second global initiative to help students at Daystar School in Jinja Uganda. Daystar is a school which meets the needs of many children who live in a slum community.

As the last month of the school year was coming up, the principal at Daystar knew there was going to be a food shortage for the lunch meal. Typically, all 450 students at Daystar receive a large bowl of posho (corn flour mixed with water) and beans for lunch. For some it is their only meal. The cost of posho and beans had risen and the principal had no extra money to pay for it.

Woodland Park’s staff and students heard about this need from Val Riegle, a Woodland Park PS colleague who was living in Jinja, Uganda at the time with her family, and organized a cupcake sale. Hundreds of cupcakes poured into the Grade 2 classroom where they were displayed and sold. Woodland Park PS students raised $1,100 which was enough money that the students of Daystar did not miss a single meal! There was even money left over to provide a small care package for each Daystarr student to take home at Christmas. The care packages included a bar of soap, one kg of sugar and one kg of rice (all highly desirable items and too expensive to afford). Many received the package on bended knee as a sign of gratitude.

Lastly, they hosted an Arts for Africa night which raised $2,800. This money went to sponsor the schooling for three siblings who live in very difficult conditions in Jinja. Because of Woodland’s generosity, the oldest girl in the family was able to graduate from high school and her two younger brothers were able to complete Grade 5 and 7. The oldest brother was ranked #1 out of 90 students in his class and will begin high school next year.

In addition to donating money, Woodland Park’s Grades 3, 4 and 5 students are penpals with some students at Daystar school. The letters that Daystar students have received are cherished and kept in a special place in their home. The letters they receive from students on the other side of the world make them feel cared for, important and not forgotten. Students at Woodland Park PS, through letter, read about the Ugandan student’s favourite food, what school is like, and some of the difficulties they face as children. The eyes and hearts of these Woodland Park PS students are open and their world view has expanded.

Val recently returned from Uganda and is back teaching at Woodland Park PS. She had the privilege of sharing her story, experiences and pictures in a school assembly this past week, “change comes one heart, one person, one family at a time. There is power in the voice and actions of one. One penpal letter, one care package, one changed life. Our one school committed to one cause and together we have brought much joy and hope and celebration to a part of our world where hope is in short supply.”

 

 

Categories: Community · Inspiration · Schools Tags: fundraising · School of the Day · Woodland Park Public School