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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday November 7, 2008 - 29 Catholic schools unite to help impoverished Haitian students By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF November 1 - 15 GIGANTIC FURNITURE SALE! · No GST/PST on Furniture Orders! Cribs from $349.99 [ Over 10 styles of cribs in stock! ] COMFORT RECLINERS & WOODEN GLIDERS The schools of the Halton Catholic District School Board are coming together to help give students in poverty-stricken Haiti a place to learn. Each of the 49 schools has been asked to raise $1,000 by the end of the school year, with all proceeds going to Solidarity-Haiti. A major initiative of the Gatineau, Quebecbased, non-profit organization is building schools in remote areas of Haiti. The project is intended to raise money for a good cause while teaching students a valuable lesson, according to Larry Clifford, superintendent of education, school effectiveness initiatives. "These kids will recognize the gifts they have been given through their parents and living in Halton, and hopefully they will recognize they have gifts to give back to children in Haiti," he said. Clifford has been working with staff, students and parents since last year to find a worthwhile cause to unite schools across the board. He narrowed it down to three organizations, interviewing members and looking at the work they were doing with their funds. Solidarity-Haiti was chosen for many reasons, particularly for the type of work it does in Haiti, according to Clifford. Among its many projects are helping people through initiatives involving agriculture, drinking water, medical care, youth, housing, economy and reforestation. It is also active on the education front, having built almost 100 classrooms in several different towns since 2000. "If these kids can get an education, they can get a chance at a better quality of life," Clifford said. "That's what we want our kids to recognize, that they have the ability to give unto others." Solidarity-Haiti bases its fundraising for schools on a classroom basis, as some facilities require two rooms, while others need more. Spokespeople for the group say it costs about $7,000 for a classroom. Clifford said he is hopeful that the money raised by the board schools will allow a seven-classroom school to be built. He said that the $1,000 fundraising goal for each school is a suggestion and that he is happy with any amount that can be raised. "It is an ambitious goal," he said. "For certain communities, it will be very attainable, other communities will not be able to attain it, but we're hoping it balances out in the end." Solidarity-Haiti relies on volunteers, so that 100 per cent of the donations can go towards its various projects. It also has contacts in different parts of Haiti through groups like parishes and cooperatives, which TINA DEPKO/ OAKVILLE BEAVER HAITI PROJECT: Students who were involved in organizing events during the first year of fundraising in 2006-07 at Mother Teresa Catholic School in Oakville for Solidarity-Haiti, say it was a valuable learning experience. Front row, left to right, are Connor White and Chris Bogias. Back row, left to right, are Colin Munden, Sarah Asselstine, Jenna Stoddart, Ryan Lutton and Grade 6 teacher Colleen Connor. The students are now in Grade 8 at the school. attractive aspects of Solidarity-Haiti identify what is needed. "Our organization is focused is that it helps people become selfmore on long-term development sufficient, rather than provide a temprojects that can help transform a porary solution. "We're trying to give the dignified community," said Helena Kelly, one of the founders of Solidarity-Haiti. people of Haiti a hand up, not a "We work as partners with leaders in handout," she said. "Once they get communities. They decide what the the contributions, they do all the projects will be and then we negoti- work in order to bring that project to ate how we can help. I find that a very fruition." Lee Anne Burke, a teacher who special approach. We are providing financial assistance for them to be used to work at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Oakville, organable to get what they need." Clifford said another reason that ized a school fundraiser in 2004-05 Solidarity-Haiti was chosen was for Solidarity-Haiti. The school because of the success board schools raised $16,800 in its first year and has since continued to forward have had with the organization. Mother Teresa Catholic School in between $2,500 and $5,000 to help Oakville raised $16,500 for support the facility in Haiti. "We initially signed on to build Solidarity-Haiti in the 2006-07 school year, and $17,200 the follow- three classrooms," Burke said. ing year. This allowed a four-room "However, our school community school to be built in a town called felt such a commitment to these students that we made a moral and Merceron. The project is led by Colleen financial commitment to continue to Connor, a Grade 6 teacher at the support our 'sister school' in the school, which has a student body of coming years." Burke, Connor, Clifford and volabout 700 from junior kindergarten unteers with Solidarity-Haiti plan to through Grade 8. "I think the students truly under- make a presentation about the stand that we are very privileged and fundraising initiative at each of the fortunate in this community and we 49 board schools. Clifford said he is have a responsibility to help others excited about the benefits this underless fortunate than ourselves, taking will make on both students whether it is people in the local com- here and in Haiti. "The potential we have in bringmunity or people around the world," she said. "We have everything we ing 49 schools together to help peoneed, but not everyone has every- ple in Haiti is limitless," Clifford said. For information on Solidaritything around the world. I wanted to open the students' eyes to that fact." 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