Students from St. Francis of Assisi School in Red Deer are learning you’re never too young to give back.
After launching food, clothing and book drives for local charities, the Grade-9-ers will decide which of these non-profits should get some of the grant money they have to distribute.
Through this slice-of-life process, the St. Francis of Assisi students are becoming aware that there are many people in need in our community — and that young people have the power to create positive change.
The Red Deer Catholic school is the first to take part in the Youth in Philanthropy program, run by the Red Deer and District Community Foundation. Since September, students at the school have researched several local charities, and picked a target for their grants — helping groups that help children.
So far, they have collected donations for the Red Deer Food Bank, Women’s Outreach, Safe Harbour Society, Books on the Bus, and other charities.
The students next plan to tour these non-profits to determine how to best divide the $500 grant that was provided for charitable giving by the community foundation (the funds were actually contributed by the Piper Creek Optimists).
The Grade 9 class must eventually raise $250 to put back into the Red Deer and District Community Foundation endowment fund so other non-profits can be helped in future. (The Piper Creek Optimists will match these funds).
The Youth in Philanthropy program was started in Red Deer last fall, with plans to expand to students at Gateway Christian School.
The foundation’s CEO Kristine Bugayong said, “It’s very grounded in reality.”
By exposing middle-school students to the groups that provide much-needed assistance in the community, “I believe the altruism that’s already in us, surfaces,” added Bugayong. She believes in instilling a sense of social justice and volunteerism in the young.
These kids are not only learning about empathy and kindness — but even fiscal responsibility, she said.
St. Francis of Assisi School leadership teacher Amber Lansing believes real-life experience can be a great educator. “We’re always looking at providing multiple ways to learn,” said Lansing, who noted the Catholic school district is very supportive of social justice causes.
One of her students, Tanner Kotowich, said the project taught him about leadership, working as a team, and “that students can make a difference in a community.”
He and his classmate, Dani LeBlanc, plan to give some of their time outside the classroom to some of the charities they learned about.
“It feels good to help other people and not expect anything in return,” added student Brayden Hessler.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter