Canadian children have been just as moved as adults by the images and stories coming out of earthquake-ravaged Haiti. And with the enthusiasm and energy of youth, students at Medicine Hat and area schools have thrown themselves into fundraising projects to help with relief efforts in the devastated island nation.
At I.F. Cox School in Redcliff, donations have been pouring in to help Haiti. The school launched its fundraising campaign on the urging of school custodian Ernie Reimer, and initially set a goal of $2,000. However, they had topped that goal even before Friday, Jan. 29, when a silent auction was scheduled to be held. (The amount raised by the auction was not available as of press time.)
I.F. Cox principal Melissa Gogolinski says even very young children are aware of what is happening in Haiti.
“People think they’re not watching, but it’s in their homes on TV every night and they see it,” she says. “I think our children are as ready to jump on board and help as everyone else.”
In fact, the compassion of some individual children is astonishing.
“One little guy heard that donations were slowing down and said, ‘I think if we all dig a little deeper, we can do it,’ ” Gogolinski says, adding that little boy — who is only in Grade 3 — then went out on his own time and shovelled snow for his neighbours, earning $80 that he gave to the Red Cross.
At River Heights School in Medicine Hat, Grade 5 student Alex Darosa started making “bead buddies” at home on her own time, with the idea of selling them and donating the money to Haiti relief. Her project caught on among her friends, and soon all of the Grade 5 and 6 classes were making the little dolls and selling them at school.
“I’m just so proud of them,” says teacher Allison Scott.
At Southview Community School, students have decided to donate 20 per cent of the proceeds from their Spell-a-Thon — which they conduct annually as a fundraiser for the school — to Haiti. Southview typically brings in at least $6,000 with the Spell-a-Thon, so it should correspond to a large donation.
“I thought it was a really nice gesture for the kids that they wanted to help out,” says Southview principal Joey Gentile.
At Riverside School, students have been making blue and red ribbons (the colours of Haiti’s flag) which they will be selling between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. today (Saturday) at Wal-Mart. Next week, they will also be holding a penny drive at the school.
Kindergarten teacher Erin Norrish says while no-one wants to scare the students or expose them to graphic content, most classes have been talking about the earthquake in an age-appropriate way.
“Even in the kindergarten class, we explain that the ground shook,” she says.
Norrish adds that children as young as five are capable of showing great kindness when a tragedy like the Haitian earthquake happens.
“Even in kindergarten, the kids are coming up with great ideas,” she says. “I had one of them ask if we could send them a big care package.”
Other schools are working on a variety of Haiti relief projects:
Medicine Hat Christian School
- Group of parents and students organized a bottle drive.
- Putting on a hot lunch on Feb. 9, proceeds to Haiti relief.
- Selling ice cream dixie cups in the hallways.
Medicine Hat High School
- Will be doing something, plans are still in the works.
Crestwood School
- Grade 2 classes organizing “Hearts for Haiti” fundraiser, will be selling Valentine lollipops throughout the first week of February.
Central Park School
- Organizing a bottle drive.
Connaught School
- The K-kids (a student service organization) are contributing to Haiti relief from their annual fundraising. One classroom is also organizing a school-wide bottle drive.
Mother Teresa School
- Held a Family Movie Night, with proceeds from the 50/50 draw going to Caritas Internationalis, a Catholic charity doing earthquake relief work in Haiti.
- Sold popcorn all week in support of Haiti relief.
Webster Niblock School
- Grade 5 class made posters to put up in the school, decorated a collection jar, and then set up a table in the front entrance of the school to collect donations. After only three recesses, the students had brought in $155.