Local students are getting in the spirit of the season by giving gifts that will change the lives of their peers on the other side of the world.
As of Thursday, students at Glebe Collegiate Institute raised $6,000 to buy a herd of 80 goats for the people of northern Uganda.
The two-week fundraiser was through Plan Canada’s Gifts of Hope campaign, which benefits countries including Columbia, Haiti, the Dominican, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda and Burkina Faso.
Giving campaigns like this have grown in popularity over recent years, said Plan Canada spokesman Steve Theobald.
Although fundraising by Canadians generates important donations, it also has the secondary benefit of getting kids engaged in international development, he said.
The project demonstrates that having a positive impact is indeed possible, said Glebe teacher Todd Kelly.
This project also puts things into perspective, he said.
“This project has made our students realize both how fortunate they are and how easy it is to make positive connections with others around the world,” he said.
“By getting youth involved in helping others, they will become more caring and compassionate,” said Priya Wadhera, a Grade 11 student at Glebe.
“We have what we need to survive… and we can afford luxuries, so why not help others?” added Grade 10 student Elyssa Loewe.
Viscount Alexander School announced Thursday that they raised enough for two goats for a family in Ethiopia through the Canadian Hunger Foundation’s Gifts that Matter Campaign.
