A group of kids from Nechako Valley Secondary school (NVSS) are planning a trip to Ecuador and to build a school there for impoverished students.
Three of the students set up a table at the Co-op grocery on Saturday with a display about their plans. They were also selling ecological, fair trade products as well as cookie dough.
“We also put on a bake sale (at school) that raised $60,” said Meghan, one of the group of ten from NVSS who are involved in the fundraising.
“A lot of schools (in Ecuador) only go to grade eight, because they have to work for their parents,” another student, Teigan explained.
One group member, Cleo said they also put on a fundraiser this winter called Vow of Silence.
“We got pledges to not talk, text or email for entire day,” Meghan added.
One can imagine the sacrifice that would feel like to anyone, much less a teenager.
Parent and chaperone, Kathy Russell said the group hopes to travel to Ecuador during spring break of 2013. The kids said that ought to be enough time to raise adequate monies for the cause and help with some of their travel costs. The NVSS students are also interested in performing service oriented fundraising in Vanderhoof, one of the parents, Michelle Miller-Guathier said, including snow shoveling. If people want to hire them they can contact the high school and leave information regarding where they can be reached.
The Ecuador students will be combining their efforts with another group that works in developing countries. Free the Children (FTC) which helps build schools, clean water and sanitary stations and organize alternative income programs by helping impoverished people set up small businesses.
Some of the FTC facts provided at the info kiosk on Saturday stated that nearly half the people living in Ecuador exist in poverty, with a marginal diet of potatoes and rice, (because of rocky terrain) and their meals are rarely if ever enriched by vegetables and meat. Part of FTC efforts include developing gardens and kitchens for the schools of the villages they endeavor to support.