Perogy power

And that can make the difference between whether an African student gets an education.

The sale of perogies has been the backbone of a fundraising project in recent years by several Kildonan East Collegiate students.

Led by several teachers, about two dozen students currently in grades 10 and 11 have spent the better part of the last three years fundraising for their Tanzania 2010 Project.

If they can successfully raise about $150,000, the students will be able to travel to Karatu, Tanzania, where they will work with a charity and spend a few weeks helping construct a rainwater-harvesting project at the Qara Lambo school.

As well, the fundraising will build and complete a water-harvesting project at another school before they travel there. The students will get to tour that project and meet the students and teachers that will benefit.

They're currently at $53,000 with a year and a half to go.

Student Riley Fonseca, who learned about the project two years ago when she was in Grade 9, said she was interested in it right away.

"It's a great opportunity and I can help people," Fonseca, 16, said.

"This project has already changed me. I've starting thinking about things happening around the world and how what I do here impacts on them."

Matthew Stewart, a Grade 10 student, said he can't wait to go to Africa to assist the students.

"It's nice to know that we're going to be helping kids and helping the community," the 15-year-old Stewart said. "It will improve their lives. It's just so hard to see what they go through -- not to have water. I can't imagine."

Teacher Daria Salamon said the project, which also includes research, was designed to be a four-year commitment by the students.

"We're hoping some of them will come home and get involved in development work through their lives," Salamon said.

"I'd be surprised if this didn't become a significant lasting influence."

To reach their financial goal, the students have sold perogies. Lots of perogies. Thousands of dollars worth of perogies.

As well, the students have hosted gourmet dinners featuring speakers like former federal MP and cabinet minister and current University of Winnipeg president Lloyd Axworthy, as well as craft sales and other fundraisers.

They are holding a Sisters of the Holy Rock concert on Jan. 13, with tickets $15 apiece, and a five-course gourmet fundraising dinner on April 23, with $40 tickets and a $30 tax receipt issued.

And they're still selling perogies.

Kathy Athayde, another teacher at the school, said she is impressed with the students.

"The kids are really hard-working," Athayde said. "And just to see them grow and become more empathetic is wonderful. These kids are really deserving of going."

Paul Tucker, a spokesman for the Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR), the charity the students are working with, said the problem isn't so much the scarcity of water in Tanzania, but how to keep it.

Tucker said the country has a three-month rain season followed by nine months of drought.

He said the lack of the ability to retain that water left 80 schools without it, unless students were sent more than two kilometres away to bring back a bucketful.

That's why CPAR builds rainwater harvesting systems at local schools.

Tucker said there are numerous benefits of bringing water to the schools.

Tucker said at the 18 schools CPAR has already brought water to, they have seen school attendance increase by 12 per cent. He said that's because there are fewer illnesses experienced by the students, who are able to now wash their hands, and the children no longer have to fetch water for the school.

Tucker said incidents of headaches and dizziness -- as well as students collapsing -- from dehydration is no longer a problem at those schools.

A side benefit is the parents of the students, and other community members, see how the system works and begin doing it on the roofs of their own homes.

Peter Nicholls, the school's vice-principal, said he hopes they're creating "23 new global citizens who want to make a difference."

"We could have a Stephen Lewis, a Bono, a somebody who will go on to do huge philanthropic things.

"We sometimes get a bit overwhelmed by the fundraising aspect, but to me the growth I'm seeing in the children is important."

If you want to help the students by either donating money or by purchasing perogies, contact the school at 667-2960 or go to the school's website at www.kec.retsd.mb.ca/ and follow the Tanzania 2010 link.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 29, 2008 B6