1. What sort of things did you find you had in common with the students at Future Leaders School?
- We both have feelings, families, friends; we both are able to change each others lives. (Brandon Oliveira)
- We have feelings like respect and compassion for one another. (Elizabeth Siciliani)
- Students at Future Leaders have a sense of humor just like us. They are friendly and loving to us and we love them as well. (Dorian Jaquays)
- When I began sending e-mails to a boy in Uganda, of course there were differences between us, but similarities too. We both have a positive outlook on life. We are both happy to be pen pals to each other and we are both idols to one another. The children in Uganda admire us because we are the first ones giving them a looking glass. They could see and believe in another country and a world that they have never known; there are possibilities and hope for them and their whole community. The students at Future Leaders are my idols because it amazes me how they stay strong in areas in their lives where I would surely fail if I were to encounter them. (Samira Abedi)
- We are children. We have feelings and we value education and our family. We both have a positive attitude towards life. We inspire each other because we help them a lot and they are strong and don’t give up. (Jessica DeMedeiros)
- We are able to learn from each other. (Michael Daly)
- We are the same age and we are creative. (Katerina Bakoyannis)
- We have very much in common, yet our lives are very different. We both enjoy sports and friendships as well as our family. (Shyden Deriphonse)
- We are helping each other learn and become better citizens. (Panagiota)
- We dream to have a better future. Except we don’t actually dream for the same things. They actually dream to live; we dream about games, books, technology… (Veronica Assunta Mongiardo)
- We are human beings with the same feelings and needs. (Christos Papadopoulos)
2. What surprised you about their lives?
- One of their dreams is to live and be old whereas our concern is to stay young. We take it for granted that we will grow old… they don’t. (Samira Abedi)
- Their salary, the lack of food, images of the school… We are wealthy compared to them. (Chelsea DiSano)
- I was shocked when I found out that many of the children are missing parents. They’re on their own. Another thing I couldn’t believe was the life expectancy. Since they don’t have the right vitamins and medicines barely anyone lives longer than 45. To us that’s thought as living half a lifetime. (Cynthia Ferullo)
- They have way less than us yet they seem happier and more appreciative. (Mikhael L’Heureux)
- Every day they eat posho and beans. (Philip Couto)
- Many children in Uganda do not go to school. (Dimitrios Magdalinos)
- I was surprised to learn that children our age get taken away by the LRA(Lord’s Resistance Army) to fight in a useless war, the children in Uganda do not celebrate their birthdays, they make only 50cents to 1$ a day even after very long hours of work. (Tina Zouboulakis)
- They are less fortunate but are able to share. (Ambrin Butt)
3. What made you want to expand the project and continue fundraising?
- My e-pal encouraged me to expand this project. A little giving gives them a lot of hope. (Nektaria Karambelas))
- It’s encouraging that in less than two months we sold 8000$ worth of products. All kids want to take part. (Nicholas Tsagaroulis)
- We were happy when they told us how money had been spent. It puts a smile on your face to hear that such poor people got an advantage that helped them a lot in their lives. I want to help them more so they no longer live in poverty. (Chelsea Di Sano)
- They know we care and love them. We can’t just stop caring and loving them. (Debbie Diplarakis)
- What made me want to expand this project are the smiles we put on their face. It makes me happy to know I’m helping someone, to know I’m making a difference. You become close to them and want to help them however you can especially when you see them work so hard. (Jessica Gomez)
- We are actually working together and we trust each other. (Michael Daly)
- I want to continue helping because after they sent us pictures of themselves making necklaces, it was really nice to see how happy they were… also, it was really nice to read how we are changing their lives.
- It’s fun and simple… we do everything as a team! (Victoria Amaral)
- We need to expand till everyone is aware of what is going on in other parts of the world just like we did this school year.
- We need to continue expanding because the effort and money is going a great cause and great people. Learners without Borders are changing lives of children and a whole community. (Cynthia Ferullo)
- We have helped a community. We want other schools to do the same as us. (Trevor Aldous))
- The children and people of Uganda deserve a safe heaven that Canada has built for itself and that’s what we’re hoping to achieve. It doesn’t have to be a paradise because there is really nowhere that is perfect all the time. Day by day we hope things will change in their home, mind and soul. (Samira Abedi)
- The children made me want to expand the project. Seeing their faces smiling. Just because they’re eating on new plastic plates and they could have a little party for once.
When we sent them money and they purchased two paper cutters which help with the production of recycled paper beads, we saw their pictures around the paper cutter acting like it was their god protecting them from the bad times in life. I understand them. This simple object which they call Master paper cutter is their hope; it’s going to save them from misery. Unlike the first pictures we received, now they are smiling. They are happy, joyful and mostly full of hope about their future. (Veronica Mongiardo) 4. Has participating in learners without borders changed how you think of people in other parts of the world?· I understand more about people in other poor countries. They are hard workers if we give them a chance. · Participating in this project has changed everything. Before I never thought about them suffering when I played on my computer or threw food in the garbage. You get to think better, have a bigger heart and see a bigger picture. (Veronica)
5. What do you think is the most positive aspect of learners without borders?
- Even if we don’t live in Uganda or can’t travel there, 12 and 13 year olds can make a huge difference. Learners Without Borders has proven to everybody that even through our classroom we could change a whole community. I am proud of how our school has managed to make a difference in the world in one school year. (Silvana Amato)
- It feels great to know that some people in Uganda are finally getting paid for the first time. (Emilie Garon)
- It allowed me to see that Ugandans are positive and happy… we are too… but I see that they are more appreciative of things… whereas we take things for granted (Mikhael L’Heureux)
- The most positive is that kids are not taken for granted. Who said children couldn’t do anything? Who said that adults are the only ones able to control the situation? Personally I never believed it. This is our way to show that teens are not all mean and heartless; we are helping kids and their community the best we could with everything in our possession. (Veronica Mongiardo)
- Our presentations and selling jewelry in different schools is one of the most positive aspects. We are all working hard… not only students here but our Ugandan friends as well.(Catherine McCambridge)
- The money raised is nothing compared to the joy and hope we brought in our Ugandan friends’ lives. They are now happier and full of new found hope. (Nicholas Ethier)
- We are thrilled to know that we have created jobs for 40 women. (Sabrina DiFino)
- Slowly, slowly the children at Future Leaders are getting inspired and they are getting the help that they need to help themselves. (Kevin Vetrano)
- The best part about this project is that we are getting involved and participating. Learners Without Borders has opened our eyes to what the world outside holds; it’s not as perfect as we might have thought. (Anisa Scego)
- Its incredible how one group of students could lift a community in one school year. (Trevor Aldous)
- My class and I are giving a school and community a better and brighter future. (Nicholas Droulias)
- Everyone is helping and everyone wants to be a part of Learners Without Borders. (Kyran Marie)
- The experience we give and get is so valuable.
- The most important aspect of Learners Without Borders is that we are helping from Canada. We did not need to travel to Uganda to make their home a better place. (Samira Abedi)
- Having this opportunity to change people’s lives is the most positive aspect. Now that we are aware of what is happening we can make even more positive changes. (M-E Charissakis)
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