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What do one goat, three hens and a rooster have in common? For students at St. Luke North’s alternative education program, they represent the hope and the chance to make a difference for those in need around the world. They are a Gift of Hope.
Starting a charity drive at St. Luke was always a goal just out of reach for secondary teacher, Deborah Holenski.
“I have wanted to conduct a charity drive for years with students but for some reason it never materialized,” said Holenski. “I even talked about it during my first year with this program which was 2010/2011.”
In the fall of 2011, she finally went for it. After introducing the idea and the work of Children’s Charity, Plan Canada to her 21 students, the class was off and running. Students Ben Sanders (Gr. 10) and Chandler Fitzpatrick (Gr. 12) immediately stepped up and volunteered as Chairpersons. A goal of raising $155 to purchase a one goat, three hens and a rooster was set.
By December 9, 2011, they surpassed their initial goal and raised $270 through collecting loose change from students and organizing a pool tournament. This may seem like ‘small change’ but to many families in poorer countries, this small gift can make a world of difference.
Through Plan Canada’s unique ratio-matched donations, that $270 continued to grow. Holenski was amazed at how far her students’ efforts would actually go to helping others.
“For example $80 will buy you 3 hens and a rooster but because its ratio is 2:1, the actual full amount becomes $240. A goat costs $75 but its ratio is 6:1, therefore, the entire matched donation is $525.”
Under the charity’s ratio plan, for every gift purchase, the gift is matched depending on the ratio attached to that gift. The ratio-matched donations are contributed by the Canadian government, or organizational partner. According to Plan Canada this approach gives “more children the gift of hope, helping more families live better lives, and transforming more communities.”
The $270 raised by the students, aided by the ratio matching, allowed the students to choose other Gifts of Hope. A peanut-butter project, a fuel-efficient stove and 2 mango trees, in addition to their initial gifts of the goat, hens and rooster, would now be distributed to communities in need.
“We have been able to track each of our Gifts of Hope to larger Plan Canada projects around the world. The hens & rooster went to Peru, the goat and mango trees to Rwanda, the peanut butter project to Zimbabwe and the fuel-efficient stove to Darfur, Sudan.”
This sense of accomplishment has inspired the St. Luke North students to do more and they are already planning their second charity project with Plan Canada.
“The students are so very proud of helping those in need,” said Holenski “We realize that no matter what our current life situation is ... there are always people less fortunate. Small change can indeed make a BIG DIFFERENCE!”