Student wins national essay contest

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This article was published 11/06/2021 (1789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To Annika Kroeker, the meaning of home transcends the brick and mortar that holds the building together.

“Home is more of a feeling than it is a word or a place,” she told The Times.

Kroeker, a St. John’s resident who attends École Lansdowne School, recently earned $30,000 for Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, after winning a national essay contest. Kroeker’s essay can be read online.

Habitat for Humanity is a global non-profit organization that brings together communities to build long-term, affordable housing for under-resourced families.

The annual essay competition calls on Canadian students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 to write about the meaning of home. Sponsors award $10 to Habitat for every submission. Judges select three students (one from each grade)  to each win $30,000 and another three receive $10,000 each on behalf of their local Habitat chapter. The money will be tucked away in a general fund for future projects.

Finalists and runners-up of the Meaning of Home contest also received personal gifts such as an electronic tablet and a pizza party for their class.

In total, Habitat for Humanity Manitoba generated around $55,000 from the contest.

Manitoba’s Habitat chapter is building 12 houses in Winnipeg this year. Each project costs between $175,000 and $190,000, according to Michelle Pereira, vice-president of marketing, communications and philanthropy.

“Our main build site is located on Templeton Avenue, and that’s where the money will be utilized,” Pereira said.

Last summer volunteers started on the organization’s first condominium project, located on Templeton, which is expected to house 20 families when completed.

The contest received a record-breaking number of entries this year — 12,041 submissions from kids in 11 provinces/territories, earning $120,410 for Habitat chapters across the country. Habitat Manitoba made history with an unprecedented 2,502 entries.

Pereira credits Manitoba teachers for the high number of contest submissions. They included the task as an assignment in their curriculum, she explained.

“Our expectations were very low for entries this year, and we had a record number — 2,500 is the most any affiliate’s ever had in the history of this competition. The teachers really stepped up, and we really wanted to make sure that they were thanked for including it and knowing that this was a big part of teaching young people how to be future philanthropists,” Pereira said.

Kroeker said it feels good to see students come together and raise money for a good cause.

Over the past 15 months, Manitobans have been spending more time than usual at home to accommodate public health orders owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This year of all years … homes matter a lot,” Kroeker’s mom, Kirsten, said.
“We’re pretty excited and pretty proud (of Annika).”