Vaughan Road Academy students lauded for their generosity.
Governor General David Johnston visits with students at Vaughan Road Academy to celebrate the fund raising achievements of their Me to We project Pocket Change Heroes.
Staff photo/NICK PERRY
After visiting Vaughan Road Academy last Wednesday, Governor General of Canada David Johnston told a group of students he'd be telling their story wherever he goes.
"You're an inspiration to the whole country," said Johnston, congratulating the grades 9 to 12 students who raised $10,000 to help build a school in Kenya.
"What's in the water in the fountains of this school? And can you bottle it up and sparkle it elsewhere?" joked Johnston, who was impressed at the level of dedication and commitment of the students. "It's a terrific atmosphere you have in your community."
Led by teacher Katy Whitfield, Vaughan Road Academy's Me to We club had been selected as one of 10 pilot project teams as well as the only Canadian school to participate in the Pocket Change Heroes campaign to raise money for a school to be built in the Masai Mara Region of Kenya.
And they reached their pledge goal of $10,000 within just two weeks of launching the project.
"They're phenomenal, very gifted students and have commitment that's 150 per cent," said Whitfield. "This is the generation of students who have the potential to make an incredible impact."
Not only did they take part in a project helping fellow students in Africa, Vaughan Road Academy students also helped raise funds for victims of the Haiti earthquake.
Locally, they organized the school's annual Halloween for Hunger food drive, collecting six shopping carts full of non-perishable food items.
Grade 9 student Daniel Silva was glad he joined the Me to We team, which helped him adjust well as a new student.
"Coming to high school for the first time, Me to We was a great way to get involved," he said, adding it also taught him about global issues such as world famine.
Lilian Gordon agreed.
"I'll be even happier to see the school built in Kenya," said the Grade 12 student. "We all value education. It's something we take for granted almost."
Partnering with the Pocket Change Heroes campaign is Free The Children, the organization that has already built more than 650 schools around the world.
Craig Kielburger, cofounder of Free The Children, also stopped by Vaughan Road Academy to applaud the students for their fundraising efforts.
"This is remarkable," said Kielburger, echoing the words of the governor general. "There is something truly in the water here."