By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, Courier Staff Writer
WCF Courrier (Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA)
CEDAR FALLS --- An elementary school in Cambodia could someday be named for a group of Cedar Falls High School students working to raise money to fund its construction.
The Cedar Falls High School Amnesty International Club is only in its fledgling years, but the students already are working hard to leave their mark on this world. This year, the students are enlisting the help of their peers and teachers to raise about $15,000 to help build and fund an elementary school in Cambodia through the American Assistance for Cambodia relief organization.
Sheila Moussavi, the club's president and a senior at the high school, learned about the program after reading an article in the New York Times. The program requires a person or organization to donate at least $13,000 to fund the initial building of a school. Matching donations by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank also are used. Then, the program recommends donors continue to send money for the school so upgrades in curriculum, technology and teachers can be made.
Moussavi said they hope to raise $15,000 so future C.F. members won't have to worry about this project right away.
"I thought this was a great way to get the rest of the school involved," Moussavi said. So far, the school's senior leadership and even the teachers have agreed to host events or collect money for the cause.
Brian Winkel, a journalism teacher and adviser for the club, said this kind of initiative is what teachers hope to see from their students.
"They are pretty much self-starters. They really encourage you by letting you know the skills they are learning are coming through in the application of things that make a difference in the world," Winkel said. "This started small, but their reach is getting bigger and bigger."
Last fall the club hosted an art show that netted $2,400 for the Invisible Children of Uganda, as well as smaller fundraisers for the local women's shelter. Moussavi said much of their first two years was spent on generating awareness in the school, not raising money. Their awareness efforts included circulating petitions and movie nights to show movie's like Hotel Rwanda.
"We do get pretty wide support, but it does take a lot of explaining," she said. "Some people just don't know about the issues or they don't see how it pertains to them. Most students are interested in the causes but just didn't have the opportunity to get involved in them before."
Club members are planning a garage sale for April 7 at the high school. Donations for the sale are being accepted at the high school. Others wanting to contribute can do so by contacting Winkel at 553-2590. The club has an account established through the district.
Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1520 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.
The Cedar Falls High School Amnesty International Club is only in its fledgling years, but the students already are working hard to leave their mark on this world. This year, the students are enlisting the help of their peers and teachers to raise about $15,000 to help build and fund an elementary school in Cambodia through the American Assistance for Cambodia relief organization.
Sheila Moussavi, the club's president and a senior at the high school, learned about the program after reading an article in the New York Times. The program requires a person or organization to donate at least $13,000 to fund the initial building of a school. Matching donations by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank also are used. Then, the program recommends donors continue to send money for the school so upgrades in curriculum, technology and teachers can be made.
Moussavi said they hope to raise $15,000 so future C.F. members won't have to worry about this project right away.
"I thought this was a great way to get the rest of the school involved," Moussavi said. So far, the school's senior leadership and even the teachers have agreed to host events or collect money for the cause.
Brian Winkel, a journalism teacher and adviser for the club, said this kind of initiative is what teachers hope to see from their students.
"They are pretty much self-starters. They really encourage you by letting you know the skills they are learning are coming through in the application of things that make a difference in the world," Winkel said. "This started small, but their reach is getting bigger and bigger."
Last fall the club hosted an art show that netted $2,400 for the Invisible Children of Uganda, as well as smaller fundraisers for the local women's shelter. Moussavi said much of their first two years was spent on generating awareness in the school, not raising money. Their awareness efforts included circulating petitions and movie nights to show movie's like Hotel Rwanda.
"We do get pretty wide support, but it does take a lot of explaining," she said. "Some people just don't know about the issues or they don't see how it pertains to them. Most students are interested in the causes but just didn't have the opportunity to get involved in them before."
Club members are planning a garage sale for April 7 at the high school. Donations for the sale are being accepted at the high school. Others wanting to contribute can do so by contacting Winkel at 553-2590. The club has an account established through the district.
Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1520 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.
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