Students at Lord Kelvin Elementary are taking in global citizenship, community, and charity lessons and applying it to the recent overseas tragedy that has killed an estimated 5,000 people.
In light of the disaster in the Philippines, students in Kim Zimmerman's Grade 5/6 class have organized fundraisers for the cause.
"The students have been overwhelmed with enthusiasm," Zimmerman wrote in an email to The Record.
There are four fundraisers: Christmas cards, baking and juice, candy, and movie and popcorn sales.
The students have elected an executive committee for each group and planned out the fundraisers with little assistance, the proud teacher wrote about her pupils.
"It has been a hands-on learning experience by these students," she noted.
Student input
One of newly elected school board chair Jonina Campbell’s priorities for the coming year is enhancing student engagement in the school board.
Campbell was inspired by a recent meeting with a high school student who talked about the impact the recent budget cuts have had at New Wesminster Secondary School.
As a result, Campbell wants to organize an opportunity for students to come together with trustees and share their concerns.
“We often engage all of our other stakeholders, like the adults in the room, but we sometimes don’t do a very good job (of consulting students),” she said, noting that the Vancouver school board has a student trustee. “That would probably better inform our decision making.”
Campbell said she hopes to get a group of students together in the new year to inquire about their life at the high school.
“That would probably better inform our decision making,’ she said.
She would like to have students take a stronger leadership role in the decision making for the district, Campbell said.
Job training boost
Douglas College has received $1.5 million in federal funding to help post-secondary grads gain on-the-job experience to move into their desired careers.
Career Start, funded in part by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, was launched in response to Canada's skills shortages and rising youth unemployment rates.
"Our government is making sure Canada's economy benefits from the talents and skills of young Canadians," Candice Bergen, Minister of State, said in a media release. "This investment will help youth gain the hands-on experience they need to get jobs in high-demand fields."
Under the program, training costs are offset by wage subsidies. Employers receive a subsidy of up to 50 per cent of a participant's hourly wage. Douglas College will work with local businesses to identify wage subsidy opportunities that are a minimum of three months.
Funding to hire eligible post-secondary graduates in the Career Start program is available to B.C. businesses in a broad range of high-demand industries.
Participants must be between the ages of 15 and 30; not receiving Employment Insurance benefits; a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and meet graduation and Career Start funding requirements.
For more information and to apply, visit careerstartyes.ca.
Helping Africa
In other Douglas College news, the school's Uganda program has attracted national and international recognition for its innovative work.
In 2011, the program was named Outstanding International Education Program in Canada by the Canadian Bureau for International Education. The Uganda Project has allowed Douglas College students and faculty to study and work in Uganda for the past seven years. Each year, students from various departments undertake a three-month practicum at the regional hospital, in HIV/AIDS, mental health, daycares, youth shelters, orphanages and libraries.
Douglas College Foundation is keen to provide opportunities for the community to share the Uganda experience and has designed a two-week guided trip - Uncovering Uganda 2014 - that includes day-long visits to many of the projects, a meeting with traditional healers as well as a five-day safari, organizers say. Uncovering Uganda 2014 is set for mid-May.
The purpose of the trip is to build support for the Uganda Project and participants should be disposed towards pledging financial support for three to five years. Costs are expected to be around $4,500 per person, which includes airfare, all accommodations and food (except on the London stopover), and the safari, as well as a charitable donation receipt for $500.
"This is a unique experience that incorporates a classic safari experience with an opportunity to participate in a side of Uganda that tourists don't see. The trip will be partly educational and wholly inspirational," Hazel Postma, associate vice-president external relations, said in a media release.
For more information, call Postma at 604-777-6173 or email [email protected].
