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First Steps... If you read the pages starting from "Kids Making a Difference", then you know that I had already been doing several smaller, local projects to help the needy with the students in 2002-2003. I had learned about donating to Heifer, International from their web page (see "Contacts") and their catalog. I was browsing through another catalog- this time from World Vision- when I ran across this brief description amongst their many other projects. It said: "Build a School
Of course it caught my eye. I'm a teacher. I sent for more information. When it arrived, I read the material and thought it over. Could it be done? I couldn't just try it- World Vision can't deliver real benefits with the best of intentions and nice tries. Because of my recent experience with a major fundraiser (for the wall mural), I knew I could probably raise quite a bit. I found out that World Vision offered two schools at the time: one for $10,700, and one for $15,000. The program wasn't experimental and operated in two countries. World Vision had already gone into villages and set things up with the head people there. As soon as a donor gave WV the money, they would take the next village from a waiting list and, utilizing some local labor and materials, begin construction of the school. Included in the package would be 80 school desks and a pit latrine. The more costly school would also add on a new teacher's quarters. And here is a key piece for those of us in public education: once the school is built, it becomes the property of Malawi. World Vision is a Christian organization, but since they give the completed school to the country, the church/state separation issue is neatly dealt with. I had already checked out World Vision with a couple of agencies who rate charities, and they had done well. I went further and asked WV to send me a cost analysis of the project. It arrived shortly thereafter and the cost breakdown was very thorough- down to the last nail. The best part of this was, it seemed to me, that my students could actually raise the money to build another school for those who needed it so badly. What an incredible thing...for our school to build another! I already knew kids can do a lot to help out others, but this was on a whole new level! I presented it to my principal. She was in favor, but told me I needed to make sure the school district officials were okay with it. After a short trip and a discussion of some technical details, I had the necessary permission. -Except for the most crucial. For this to work, I would need every student to participate. That meant the teachers had to agree as well. I went around to each and explained what I wanted to do. At the next faculty meeting, a vote was taken and the Project approved. I called World Vision
and let them know that we were going to do this. It had taken a while
to get that far, and really all that had happened was a little planning and
the securing of everyone's okay. At this point, please
choose a direction from the
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