Small things make greater impact
Met School Social Justice League cares for the homeless
Advertisement
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2016 (3189 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Met School Social Justice League (MSSJL) members learned crucial lessons when they saw two little projects come together and impact many people in need.
Two students joined the group with different project ideas and developed a much bigger one. On Dec. 19 and 20, the Social Justice League assembled and delivered care packages to the homeless downtown.
With RBC’s Make 150 Count grant, Hilary Pascal would knit scarves for the people she connected with at bus stops and separately, Gottfried would make backpacks for them with a grant she received from the Canadian Teacher’s Federation social justice program Imagineaction. The principal, Nancy Janelle, noticed the two projects were similar and invited the students to join the Social Justice League and work on a bigger project. When putting the two ideas together and involving other Social Justice League members, the project became making and delivering care packages to the homeless.
Pascal, who said she’s constantly downtown for dance lessons and cadet meetings, has always reached out to those in need. She’d talk to them on bus stops and buy food and supper to those she met. Connecting with the homeless reminded her of when she felt no one was helping her.
“I pretty much grew up in poverty myself because I’m from a reserve and growing up I didn’t have the access to the fanciest clothing. I wasn’t promised a winter jacket every single year, and I didn’t have enough food,” Pascal explained. “I didn’t feel people were helping out and I just want to give back to the people that are surrounded by others who can help but don’t.”
Pascal didn’t imagine her idea would develop into something bigger and affect 50 people. She planned on knitting about 15 scarves to hand out to those she’s met.
“I’m feeling very confident. We can help more people in need instead of just limiting it to people I made connections with,” she continued.
Loghan Bencharski was another leader in the project. Janelle knew he was interested in social issues and invited him to embark on the project. During We Day Bencharski connected with a person who works for KPMG International, and the MSSJL received a donation of $200.
Bencharski said it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences in his life. He commented he had the desire to give back to the community and the project has got him motivated to become involved in other projects.
“It’s nice when you receive something from someone, but there are people out there that don’t receive anything. So to give back to them and for them to have at least a little warmth and a little food for a little bit is relieving because they are happy for a little bit,” he said.
Janelle said it’s important for students to leave the school setting to give back to the community. While learning and practising generosity, the students and league members learned how working together toward a common goal can have a massive impact on others.
This was the first time the school was able to identify projects that weren’t connected to the league and then invite the students to bring their ideas in and brainstorm to make something greater.
“We are in a real position of privilege to be able to do this, so we have to do it…By (giving back) students can understand the power of working together, whereas if they had just done the initial two small projects, it wouldn’t have snowballed into this,” Janelle said.
