Students forge an unbreakable bond

Earlier this year, Jeremy Ryant, a Grade 12 student at West Kildonan Collegiate, came together with seven other students from across the province to write and produce a music video as part of International Development Week (Feb. 5 to 11).

Their song, Unbreakable, has been viewed on YouTube more than 2,800 times and is on its way to earning the group $250 to donate to the charity of their choice.

The project was part of the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation’s challenge to students to produce a music video about the empowerment of women and girls, this year’s International Development Week theme.

"MCIC has done music videos in the past as a way to engage youth," explains MCIC public relations co-ordinator Sumeep Bath. "It is a great way to engage not only the youth making the video, but also those watching."

The diverse group of students, including two from Flin Flon, came together over two days in January. They spent one orientation day learning about the song’s intended theme and getting some background in lyrical composition and other relevant topics. During the second day, the students wrote, composed and recorded the song, and then directed and filmed the accompanying video.

As a musician and chairman of his school’s social justice club, Ryant was immediately interested when he heard about the project. He recalls that when the group got together, they all had ideas about what they wanted, and within six hours they had composed a song.

"It was phenomenal. It was one of those experiences you will always remember," he says. "We were all brought together by these common interests — social justice and music — but right away we felt like friends."

To view the Unbreakable music video, visit http://goo.gl/3iCZ1. The students will receive their charitable donation once the video receives 3,000 views.

---

Red River Community Centre is holding its first ever summer camps for kids between the ages of six and 11. The week-long camps, which will take place throughout July and August, will offer campers a fun, educational and healthy environment. All children may attend, regardless of ability.

Themes that will keep kids busy all summer-long include the summer kick-off, in which kids will learn about cooking and nutrition, and a final fiesta, where campers will participate in Folklorama-type events.

There are also sports, dance and craft weeks. Camp includes a nutritious lunch daily.

You can register until Sun., March 18 at redrivercc.com. Cost is $169/week.

 Gabriela Klimes is a community correspondent for West Kildonan. You can contact her at weskaystories@gmail.com.