Hinchinbrooke PS students raise $ and hope for Kenya

Mar 17, 2011

Photo: Hinchinbrooke Grade 6/7 students lead the Fun Days.

Students at Hinchinbrooke Public School are coming to understand the daily hardships that youngsters in Kenya face thanks to the efforts of HPS teacher Debbie Jones and her grade 6/7 class. For five years now Ms. Jones and her students have been holding Fun Days for Kenya, monthly school-wide fundraisers designed as a fun way for students at the school to raise money for people in Kenya. Hope2 Kenya is a not-for-profit organization begun by Sandy Foster, a long time educator from North Bay who in the past has visited HPS personally to thank them for their ongoing support. The organization raises funds to implement a number of different projects in Kenya, all of which aim at helping Kenyans to become self-sufficient. In Sandy's words the projects are meant to provide “ a hand up” rather than “a hand out”.

In July 2010 Sandy was joined by an eight member team and traveled to Kenya to complete a number of different projects they had started there, including Veronica Home, an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS and Kolongolo School. The team also set up a food distribution centre for widows in need.

HPS students in Ms. Jones’ class explained in particular what they are learning by putting on these regular fundraisers to support Foster and the organizations ongoing efforts in Kenya.

“We are fund raising to help give the kids in Kenya a chance to do what we always get to do,” said Hanna Smail. Megen Hole added, “We tend to take for granted everything that we have here at home so this is a chance for us to see that we can make a difference and help others who are in need.”

The Fun Days take place in the gym and every class in the school is invited to participate in a number of different games and activities. Debbie Jones' students are in charge of designing, setting up, and organizing the entire event. They also sell the tickets, run all of the booths and afterward do an in-depth analysis of which activities were successful, which were not and assess all the numbers.” Not only are the students becoming aware of others in the world who are in need and learning that they can help make a difference, but the event also provides the students with an opportunity to practice a number of educational skills that they are learning- math, geography and a number of other related skills.

Ms. Jones feels it is important to give her students a chance to do something to help others in need in the world and likes to share Foster's motto, a motto Foster borrowed from Helen Keller that states, “I am only one, but still I am one. I can not do everything but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”

In Sandy Foster’s words, this means, “No child should be dying of malnutrition, water borne diseases, malaria, TB or AIDS. No child should be left an orphan without having basic needs fulfilled. The little I can do might help the child who may one day lead Kenya into democracy and peace.”

So far this year Ms. Jones’ class has helped the school to raise $700 for the Hope2Kenya team, which for its size is no small feat.

For more information visit www.hope2kenya.org