The students, staff and community of Glen Brae Middle School continued their tradition of reaching out to others by holding its 5th Annual Walk/Run Fundraiser April 30, 2010. The purpose of this annual event is to raise funds in order to help build latrines and urinals in order to improve the sanitation conditions at adopted rural Kenyan primary schools.

A student planning committee under the direction of teacher Pamel Rogers organized the entire event. Invited guests school trustee Ronald French and Pam Reinholdt, Superintendent of Education spoke briefly to the students. Both emphasized the importance of the day’s event and highlighted the fact that this tradition is in its 5th year.

John Smith, President of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School, quoted recent global trends that underscored the importance of school sanitation to students in developing countries such as Kenya. He stressed that the students at Glen Brae were leading the way for other schools in the HWDSB and across the country to follow.

A founding member of Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School and a former student of Glen Brae, Carissa Borowitz, was introduced. Carissa, currently a McMaster University student, is credited with organizing the first Glen Brae Walk/Run event in 2005. She advised this year’s Glen Brae students that any one person can make a difference in the world.

Also attending this year’s event were two elite Kenyan runners. Josephat Onjeri, this year’s second place finisher of the 30km Around the Bay Road Race, and David Karanja, the 8th place finisher in the 5km race at the Around the Bay event. Both runners walked, ran, answered questions and had their photos taken with
the Glen Brae students.

Glen Brae Middle School’s efforts produced $2307. These funds will immediately be used to complete the most recent latrine building project at a school called Equator Primary School in Nyahururu, Kenya.

On hehalf of the children, Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School wishes to thank Glen Brae Middle School for continuing to reach out to the world.

You are making a difference.

Glen Brae Middle School has continued the tradition of the “Me to We” ethic by holding its fourth Walk/Run Fundraiser October 23, 2008, to help build latrines to improve the sanitation conditions at adopted rural Kenyan primary schools. Glen Echo School’s students for the second year became part of this event. Glen Echo School collected “quarters for Kenya”. All proceeds went to building efforts coordinated by Connecting Countries Adopt-a-School.

John Smith, President of Connecting Countries, was on hand to receive the proceeds of the day. He said of student efforts, “This is what ‘From Me to We’ is all about and it fits perfectly with the philosophy of Connecting Countries.”

The term “Me to We” refers to the book by Craig Keilburger, who began fund raising and advocating for improving the lives of children around the world when he himself was a child.

A Pencil Pocket is a pencil holder that is worn around a child’s neck. It resembles a single finger from a glove. This simple device is used largely by Kenyan students in the junior and younger grades to ensure their treasured pencils are kept safe. John Kariuki, Head teacher from Madaraka Primary School in Kenya, stated in a recent email… “We love them… send more.”

In the 2007-2008 school year, over 300 Pencil Pockets were manufactured by students from 3 local Southern Ontario schools: Viscount Montgomery School, Hamilton; Ryerson Public School, Burlington; and Lee Academy, Lynden. We hope to see this program grow in the coming years.