PHOTO BY ADRIAN ALLEYNE Enlarge Image

Grade 9 John Henderson Junior High students Mackenzie Blandford (left) and Danielle Friesen, with teacher Jennifer Johannson.

Students from John Henderson Junior High promised to make a difference in the world — and now they’re sticking to their word.

A group of 14 students from the East Kildonan school attended the We Day event held last fall at MTS Centre in support of Free the Children.

As part of participating in the event, students had to commit to undertake a local action and another global one.

To satisfy their local commitment, the John Henderson students will take part in a book drive to help a northern Manitoba school in conjunction with the Aboriginal Education Resource Centre later this year.

As part of its global action, the school held an Our Day event on Feb. 10 to promote its Kenyan well-building project.

Grade 7 teacher Jennifer Johannson said attending We Day and organizing their own event has helped the students develop important leadership skills.

"I think it’s so important, it’s never too early to start," Johannson said.

"If we’re already getting kids in Grade 7 involved, then they will take it with them."

As a way to raise funds for the well, students are selling water bottles with Gandhi’s famous quote, "You must be the change you want to see in the world," and T-shirts with the Our Day logo on them. They also sold candy grams for Valentine’s Day.

Their ultimate goal is to raise the $5,000 needed for the well by June 30. Johannson said the hope is that the students can reach their goal prior to that date.

She said the students knew how they wanted to make a difference shortly after attending We Day.

"They decided they wanted to do something with water, and they were drawn to the RBC Blue Water Project," she said.

The Blue Water Project is a multi-year program initiated by the Royal Bank of Canada that will support non-profit organizations that protect watersheds and ensure access to clean drinking water.

Grade 9 student Mackenzie Blandford said making the decision to help those in need was an easy one.

"I’ve always wanted to help people in the world, and Our Day was a great way to raise awareness," Blandford said.

The reaction of students at Our Day made all of the hard work of organizing the event worthwhile, according to Blandford and fellow Grade 9 student Danielle Friesen.

"That’s what keeps you going, that’s the point. We need to get people involved," Friesen said.

Johannson said she has been inspired by the commitment shown by students at the school.

"It’s unbelievable, I almost teared up at Our Day," Johannson said. "If this is our future, then we’re going to be OK."
 
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adrian.alleyne@canstarnews.com