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| ActionNOW Student group 2012-13 |
Tuesday June 4th, 2013...our last Open 4 Change meeting this year
Recent things to celebrate...
$860 raised through Famine for Ecuador!
$187.17 raised for Hospice at Recycle Depot!
Giving a voice to those who are silent event
Bullet Case Bouquets
By Emily Gittens
There is a continent,
that
we love to criticize but can seldom be bothered to help,
so we label it's countries third-world and tuck away on the back
of some shelf,
Yet that land, is a beautiful place
but like anything touched by man.. it has it's dark side to face.
Between
it's borders;
Young lives become commodities.
sold for one more week's survival,
packaged up and sent off
to front
lines.
Toy soldiers fighting wars they were never built to survive
falling...
one
by
one...
Their splintered
forms litter the ground
and the only mother they ever knew cries for them,
her soil soaked in their blood; she screams
for her children
-buried beneath her before they stopped breathing.
They carried their own tombstones, strung form their
necks;
reduced to nothing but a number.
Military issued crucifixes of themselves.
They've been ghosts since before
they can remember...
and if at any point in their spectral existence they had enough hope to pray for help
they prayed
to the God of war.
Because they knew..
that, was all their future held in store.
They played hopscotch over land
mines
red-rover across enemy lines
Ring around the rosie
with pockets full of things a whole lot worse than posie.
Born
with VIP passes the machine gun ballet,
they pick shrapnel petals yo see if survival loves them enough to keep them alive
today.
But this, is no Hollywood pyrotechnics show,
the horror of conflict is the only life these children know.
They
said goodbye to friends with bullet case bouquets quickly left at unmarked mass graves
Childhood was nightmare most of
them will not escape,
caught between; too young to know- and old enough to do anything
They are shadow children;
afraid
of the dark, but far too exposed by the light
they were nurtured by fright
Their most familiar sensation is not the
touch of a mother
or a soft spoken word
it is to always be hungry,
to always be hurting
to always be screaming
but
never be heard.
In their youth;
they learn how to rape
but not how to love.
Confusing romance with warfare
desperate
fingers flirt with flighty triggers,
lips press themselves to pins - passionate for the power they feel in the explosions
in leaves behind
but the feeling is fleeting,
in the end these lovers will betray them
and they remain-
small
children in uniforms far too heavy for their small bones
and hands too red for ones so young
They will clutch their
AK-47 like an icy teddy bear
or a desperate last payer
But in the end..
she offers them no salvation.
They march
her into battle
wound up like clockwork
Left. Right. Left. Right.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Waiting
till their
luck runs out
and they are the next one to fall.
An AK's ice their last sensation,
dying with a lover who left their
fingers
not knowing that was wrong because they had never known another
They never knew love,
they never grew old
victims
of childhoods sold
to fuel the unending appetite
of war.
Book Drive for Tanzania
Other...
Time for Grade 12's to speak... advice to those returning??
Hopes and Dreams for what Open 4 Change can do next year??
We Day is Oct. 18th next year...
DONOTATE TO FREE THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION --OUR VILLAGE IN ECUADOR BY SPONSORING A
STUDENT TO TAKE PART IN THE FAMINE MAY 16-17 The
vision behind this is to increase everyone's understanding of poverty and to raise funds to HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the
Victoria School District's adopted village in Ecuador. .... GO HERE: This will get you to Kate Worthy (organizer) page on Free the Children
Foundation's site and will generate you a tax receipt. Please email Heather Coey hdcoey@gmail.com to let us know what student you are sponsoring... Thank you
Tuesday May 7, 2013
-
Orders for Free the Children Foundation
Spring Safari Jewelry with Megan
due in on Friday
-
Famine for Ecuador May 16-17 --forms
due _______________
-
-
Hospice Awareness/Donation Drive at May
Recycle Depot May 25
-
Speak Out! for child rights Spoken Word
Event on May ____________
-
Book Drive for Tanzania Next Week May 13-17
-
SPCA awareness facebook page: _________________ Special Meeting Next Monday... U-Vic/UBC Post
Carbon Youth Tour http://www.postcarbonyouthtour.com/ ... might be good for Action Now members and Green Group Members as well.
Tuesday April 9, 2013 - Report out Dinner for Ecuador... made over
$1000.. Rebecca applied to get the donation doubled by a Canadian Company
- Famine for Ecuador... progress
- Soup
Kitchen report
- Book Drive for Tanzania... where are we at?
- Fundraiser for Hospice... where are we at?
- SPCA
awareness campaign... where are we at?
- Coin Drive... where are we at?
- Other?
Special
Leadership Meeting on Monday May 13th at lunch in room 32.... Guest Presentation by U-Vic/UBC students
on their Post Carbon Youth Tour www.postcarbonyouthtour.com Idea for next year... do we want to be involved? PROPOSED DISTRICT FUNDRAISER FOR OUR ADOPTED
VILLAGE IN APRIL 2014
April is National Grilled Cheese Month and
April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Day – Really - Google it!
Each school that participates will: 1. Work with a
Chef from Island Chef’s Collaborative to create an awesome grilled
cheese sandwich Each school will be responsible for getting their own
food donations, hopefully with the support of their chef 2. Paint and
fire small ceramic plates (approximately 20-30 per school) Marnice
will source and purchase the plates (schools responsible for paint and
firing) 3. Schools will sell tickets for $15 which includes a painted
plate Participants will choose plate when they get to the event 4.
On the day of the event each school will have their own station with
freshly made samples of their grilled cheese sandwich (working with
their chef) 5. Participants will circulate with their plates and
sample the sandwiches and then vote for their favourite Options:
Entertainment Additional fundraising opportunities during the event
????]
Tuesday Feb. 5th, 2013
Report out from SMU & Pearson Conferences on Global Citizenship...
Planning Time... getting organized and securing dates in the school calendar
During Block D... 'Building a Richer Future for Earth' assemly with Free the Children Foundation
Speaker, Alyssa
During Block C... 30 leadership students paticipate in a workshop room 34 in Flex after assembly
Pink Shirt Day... Feb. 27th
Positively AFRICA opportunity http://www.positively annual "water walk" fundraiser in May (Sherri Hohert sherri@telus.net)
We are Love Campaign for Valentine's Day
Famine for Ecuador
Dinner for Ecuador
Book Drive for Africa
The Didi Society of Victoria would like to invite your Reynolds leadership group and/or
your school to participate in the 2013 Social Justice Youth Conference on Saturday, February 23d at Central Middle School
from 9am to 3pm. The conference aims to inspire youth to take action, and provide them the tools to take action in their
community and world.
This event is an ideal opportunity for youth in grades 6-12 from all backgrounds and skill levels
to gain skills to take action on key social justice issues that are at the forefront of the globalized world.
The Didi
Society has designed the morning for four workshops that are fun and challenge youth to take an active interest in social
justice. The topics are: Fair Trade, Gender and Globalization, Environmental Sustainability, and Children's Rights. The morning
will provide youth with the tools they need to take action to make positive change in their communities and in the world.
The
afternoon will feature an informal session for sharing and networking among the groups that are already active in the community,
making positive change, followed by an interactive presentation on privilege and action.
The Didi Society will provide
a short morning break with refreshments, as well as a light lunch.
Registration is free, and we invite
individuals as well as groups to participate. Please see the attached registration form and distribute widely. The registration
forms should be returned to education@thedidisociety.org<mailto:education@thedidisociety.org>. We have limited numbers for this event, so ensure to get your applications in soon.
Additionally, we are extending
a special invitation to those groups, like yours, that are already so active making positive change. We would like to acknowledge and showcase the work youth have already been doing. There will be an opportunity for
these groups to present a poster, short video, skit, photo exhibit, or other medium of what they have been doing to make positive
change in their community and world. Please complete the attached registration form for Group Presentation
and return to education@thedidisociety.org<mailto:education@thedidisociety.org>.
Please direct any questions regarding the event itself info@didisociety.org<mailto:info@didisociety.org>. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Julia Norman
Tuesday Jan. 8th, 2013
- Report out: Shoebox hampers, potato socks, calendars, other
- Finishing this week: W.I.N. Clothing Drive--getting organized for completion...
- Ongoing: Soup Kitchen
- Next:
FEB WE are LOVE campaign for SD #61 Adopted Village in Ecuador (Sam, Erin, Sarah)
MAR Spoken Word to SPEAK out for Child Rights (Free the Children Fundraiser for... ) Reanna & Ryan
MAR Dinner for Ecuador (Rebecca & Team)
APR Book Drive for School in Tanzania (Griffin, Alexei & Marie)
MAY Famine for Ecuador Adopted Village (Kate & Faelan)
Swim/Hike -a-Thon for Hospice... (Holly, Candace, Paige)
Bake Sale for Hurricane Sandy... (Melissa)
Fundraiser for SPCA... (Logan & Connor)
Cookie Draws for school in Tanzania (Anna)
Tuesday Dec. 4th, 2012
News from Guatemala... what should we do?
Report out:
- Soup Kitchen
- Food Making Fundraiser Group
- Calendars for Africa
- Shoe Box Hampers for Homeless
- Potato Socks
- WIN Clothing Drive
- Cookies for School Supplies in Tanzania
- Bottle Drive for Hurricane Sandy Victims
Other things coming up...
- MAR Spoken Word to SPEAK out for Child Rights (fundraiser for children in Guatemala)??
- FEB WE are LOVE campaign for SD #61 Adopted Village in Ecuador ??
- APR Coin Drive Grade Challenge and Depot for Guatemala Connection??
- MAY Famine for Ecuador Adopted Village
- Swim/Hike -a-Thon for Hospice...
- Other?
Tuesday Nov. 6. 2012
Report out:
- WE DAY
- Soup Kitchen
- Food Making Fundraiser Group
- Other...
Guest: Monika Hall-Kowalewski
- Write-A-Thon on or around International Human Rights Day, Dec 10th
- Opportunity for interested students to get hands on experience in a political campaign-helping with the Green Party Campaign
in the upcoming by-election
Campaigns by the Calendar:
- NOV Calendars for Africa
- NOV/DEC Shoe Box Hampers for Homeless
- NOV/DEC Potato Socks
- JAN Spoken Word to SPEAK out for Child Rights (fundraiser for children in Guatemala)?
- FEB WE are LOVE campaign for SD #61 Adopted Village in Ecuador
- APR Coin Drive Grade Challenge and Depot for Guatemala Conection
- MAY Famine for Ecuador Adopted Village
Planning Groups for Nov/Dec Activities --who are the group leaders?
Sign up for office hours to go over your plans...
Women in Need Clothing Drive Request...anyone interested?
Dear Mrs Charlton and Mrs Coey,
I was wondering if you would be willing to support the Victoria Women In Need Community
Cooperative (WIN) with a donation drive in November or December. We are very low on clothing and small houseware
donations and it would be great to partner with Reynolds on this. As the parent of a Reynolds grad - I am always so
impressed with how incredible the Reynolds community is.
WIN supports women along every step of their journey between
crisis, financial self sufficiency and wellness. We start by providing women with clothing for themselves and their
families when they are in the crisis stage. When women are ready to leave transition houses, we provide all the furniture,
household goods and linens they need to get started. When they are ready, we work with women to identify a plan and
accomplish her goals of self development, training and education that will lead to her self sufficiency and wellness. We provide
training and self development programs, as well as financial support for women to pursue additional training, education, self
development or small business expansion.
As an organization, we are completely self sustaining through the operation
of our resale shops, and rely on the generosity of our community to be able to run our programs. We have a strong commitment
to environmental leadership, and won an Eco Star award for Waste Reduction this year.
We would be able to provide our
donation bags for distribution to Reynolds students - these are reusable and include information about WIN, and our donation
guidelines. We could plan a day for our truck to come and collect all the donations - and celebrate the efforts of everyone
involved. We would love to be able to include a photo of the donation drive in our newsletter if that is something that
would be okay with you and the students involved.
Please let me know if this is something that you think Reynolds could
support - and if so what would work best from your perspective.
Many thanks,
Clare
Clare Yazganoglu
Executive
Director
Victoria Women In Need Community Cooperative
785 Pandora Avenue
Victoria, BC
V8W 1N9
www.womeninneed.ca<http://www.womeninneed.ca>
Phone: 250-480-4006 ext 201
Cell: 250-889-8781
Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012
Down to business :)
-actionNOW group 2nd and 4th Thursdays...
- Me to We Oct. 18th...details
-Guatemala Pen Pals
-African AIDS Angels
Dinner event Fundraiser Idea!
Interested in volunteering and cooking? I’d
like to organize a dinner event where leadership volunteers cook a meal that is served to guests. The money raised would go
towards our projects in Guatemala and Ecuador. Researching recipes, planning logistics, selling tickets and making
delicious food would be the main tasks. The event would take at least five people, but the more help the better!
~ Rebecca
Signed up:
Roxy Isabelle Meggin Charlie
Zoe Cassie Taylor Anna Chiara Grace Luc Simon Annie Kylie Rowan
Soup Kitchen Volunteer Idea!
I
am hoping to organize a soup kitchen volunteer night.
It would happen either a wednesday or thursday night once a week
or every two weeks, at potentially "Our Place"....details to be determined...
Please let me know if you are interested
in this volunteer opportunity,
by talking to me and signing up/ giving me your email address on the list I will pass around.
~Alexei.
Other ideas from you...
-Halloween for Hunger, Vow of Silence (New
Name), Calendars for Africa, Warm clothing Drive, Pen Pals, should be this meeting
-Potato Socks, Shoe Box Hampers, snow ball idea,
candy canes to LakeHill... start organizing at November meeting
-Coin Drive & Famine for Guatemla & Ecuador
usually Sem. 2
-building homes? look into Habitat for Humanity
Grouping up and making plans and organizational meeting dates...
Welcome to Reynolds Open 4 Change Group
-One of our Leadership Umbrella Groups
This year we will be holding one official meeting each month for sharing information and organization... other planning
meetings will be held by individual groups when required at times determined by the group.
Our monthly meetings will be held on Tuesdays:
Sept. 11
Oct. 2
Nov. 6
Dec. 4
Jan. 8
Feb. 5
Mar. 5
Apr. 9
May 7
June 4
We have many awesome activities to carry on:
- Me to We Free the Children Foundation
- Guatemala Connection (coin drive, pen pals...)
- Ecuador Connection (Famine Sleep over, group travel to build a school)
- supporting the homeless in Victoria (shoebox hampers, potato socks...)
... what do you want to be involved in? What new projects do you want to see happen?
Open 4 Change Lunch Meeting
11:15-11:30
Sign in as arrive to room 32
11:30-11:40
Mission statement (purpose):
Our mission is to help others both locally and globally
through fundraising, awareness, collections and activities, focusing on our global connection to Panajachel Guatemala and
locally with our homeless initiatives, while maintaining a relationship with Free The Children Foundation and SD61’s
adopted village in Ecuador.
11:40-11:50
Projects of the Past
-LOCAL...
Cops 4 Cancer, Potato Socks, Shoebox Hampers, warm clothing drive, Farm Sanctuary
-GLOBAL...Free The Children Foundation-- Halloween
for Hunger, Vow of Silence (Speak out for Child Rights), Guatemala (Coin Drive, Recycle Depot in April, Pen Pals),
Ecuador (Famine/Sleep over), Water for Africa (rafiki chains, calendars)
-Other Ideas...
11:50-12:00
Cue Cards
-Name
-Grade
-Project interest
-Interest in taking a lead coordinating a project
12:00-12:05
Me to We--- Oct. 18th
12:05
How to get organized, how to get help
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