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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-03-18, Page 20Dor • March 18, 2 " - . • • ' , 17r, - A • - -I-- • "- - - • I •ews, ••••• s. • or-• • • or ree r • 9 Dan Schwab 4111111MEM After collecting pledges for a day- long vow of silence March 5 and rais- ing money from a bake sale last week, the Grade 5 class at St. Columban School is expecting to donate about $1,000 to Free the Children. The class first became motivated to donate to the charity during the start of a social justice unit introduced by teacher Deb McCarthy. The 10 and 11 -year-olds were learn- ing that kids their own age in poorer parts of the world often do not have the opportunity to go to school and instead are forced to work to stay alive. "Some have to make carpets or bricks or fireworks," says Taylor Kinsmen, 10, who read part of a pre- sentation prepared by the Grade 5s to other classes before the start of the bake sale March 12. Kinsmen -was one of 23 students in the class who worked on the presen- tation, which also included making a map of the world and identifying areas where child labour continues to be an issue. Taylor and her classmates noted that children in such countries as Uganda, Peru and Liberia some- times have difficulty getting access to an education and many times end up doing manual labour instead. "The United Nations made a list of "huron East's Leading Weekly Newspaper" • YOUR SOURCE FOR- • ' Ae • k4:f4Pbm4vo - , — " • if- • Design/Printin '404 • Internet Advertising • Fax & Photocopying • Flyer Distribution 11 Main Street, Seaforth, Ontario NOK 1WO (519) 527-0240 Fax (519)527-2858 E-mail: seaforth@bowesnet.com Websqe:wwwiseaforthhuronexpositor.com Dan Schwab photo Christie McCann and Kelsy Klaver,- in front, show offsome of the goodies during the Grade 5 class's bake site at St. Columban School March 12. Also pictured are Claire Rocher, Branden Bouw and Noah Rohfritsch. rights for chil- dren," Taylor read during the presentation. "These include the right to af- fection, priority for relief in time 4fr of disaster and an education ... They should en- joy these rights regardless of religion, race, nationality or social origin." • Taylor says she, hopes the class •can - do more to raise awareness for Free the Chil- dren and the plight of ex- ploited kids ev- erywhere. "We can make more people care about it," she says; "And I hope we • can raise a lot of ,money for them., Taylor admits that the vow of silence, which the class partic- ipated in to sup- port the initiative started by Free the Children, was a little difficult to keep for the entire school day. "It would've been hard if we didn't have the chalkboard to use," Taylor says. McCarthy says the students were given a break from the vow of silence during the lunch hour recess. She says the students, who were encouraged to ask from donations to sponsor the event from family and close friends only, raised about $700. After the proceeds from the bake sale are counted, McCarthy expects to send about $1,000 to Free the Children this month. "For two days of fundraising in one class, it's awesome," she says. Each Grade 5 student was en- couraged to bring in something for the bake sale, and two long tables covered with cookies, brownies and muffins were up for grabs to other classes. McCarthy says the success of both events is due to her class's commit- ment to improving the lives of chil- dren forced into a life of labour. "The studehts were very compas- sionate and wanted to do some- thing," she says. "We tried to spread the message that every little bit helps. And especially in these tough economic times, parents and families have been really generous." — Clarification Youth involved in an altercation with a local man returned to 'the complainant's residence *to apologize, where the police officer located them. The officer did not return them to apologize, as was reported in last Week's Huron Expositor. • : `•