Helping to raise awareness about the plight of former Sudanese child soldiers – that has been the goal of a Lenten project by students in Courtney Mellow’s Grade 7/8 class at Christ The King Catholic School in Wallaceburg.
Back in February the students began a partnership with the international charity GUA Africa, and its founder Emmanuel Jal.
“Our project has been a tremendous success,” Mellow said. “Not only have we helped to raise awareness about GUA Africa, but we’ve also collected more than $1,000 in a challenge of all St. Clair Catholic elementary schools. I am so proud of our students and the work they have done.”
GUA Africa helps ex-child soldiers from Sudan to get an education.
Through the project, the students have helped to spread Emmanuel Jal’s message that “…education is the pathway to peace… and knowledge is power.”
“Our students know that change can begin with one person,” said Laura Callaghan, principal of Christ The King Catholic School. “Together, these students have worked to inspire others to get involved, to make a difference and help to be the change that we all want to see happen.”
The students built a website at ctkcalledtoserve.weebly.com which included updates on the project through a student blog and a message from Emmanuel Jal himself, congratulating the students on their work.
The students also built handmade schoolhouse piggy banks, which were sent to all Catholic elementary schools across the district. The piggy banks were filled with donations throughout Lent and returned to Christ The King last week.
A brief presentation about the Christ The King Lenten Project will be made by students in the Grade 7/8 class on Friday, April 24 at the school.
Photo credit: Lenten Project 2015: This Time for Africa
