A Grade 11 student from Confederation Secondary School is spearheading a drive to raise money to build a school in Africa and give children a chance at a better future.
Jacqui Villeneuve is inviting students to look under couch cushions and dig into piggy banks, pant pockets and old purses to collect as much change as possible for the Change for Change campaign this fall.
Villeneuve honed her leadership skills this summer when she worked alongside the children and elders of the village of Salabwek, Kenya during a Me to We youth volunteer trip.
“Together, we built two classrooms and we engaged in long conversations about what the elders of the community believe they need to have a successful future of the next generation,” she said, in a press release from the Rainbow District School Board.
“They all agreed education is the key to bringing their children out of poverty.”
“Change for Change has the potential to raise enough money to build a school,” she adds. “Students in Rainbow Schools who are participating in the campaign will be helping the children of Kenya reach their full potential.”
The Change for Change campaign will support Sudbury Minga for Maasai, a Free the Children development project. Minga, an Andean call of "coming together for the common good," fosters sustainability with communities helping communities.
“Student leadership development, global citizenship, social advocacy, and demonstrated action based on the belief that individually and collectively we can make a difference are the building blocks for the project,” says organizer Lori Adams.
"By contributing to this project, students in Rainbow Schools are learning about different cultures and gaining a greater understanding about social issues such as education, poverty, health and sustainable development," says Jean Hanson, director of education for Rainbow District School Board. "Students are becoming leaders of positive change through good global citizenship."
"Rainbow District School Board is committed to education for sustainable development - enough, for all, forever. We believe action can have a positive impact on social and environmental issues here at home and around the world. So we certainly commend Jacqui Villeneuve for taking the initiative to lead Change for Change and giving everyone an opportunity to make a difference,” she added.