A Toronto congregation is doing three good turns with one simple project. Don's Schoolhouse Project, created by Morningside High Park Presbyterian Church, is raising money to build a school in Kenya, helping farmers in developing countries earn a fair wage by promoting fair trade coffee, and honoring the memory of church regular Don Jennison, a former school principal and supporter of social justice who died in 2005. His famous question for people who had learned of an injustice was, “Well? What'cha gonna do about it?”
Morningside High Park did plenty. Between October 2005 and June 2006, thanks to donations, fundraisers and sales of fair trade coffee, tea and chocolate, more than $11,000 was raised. Nearly $10,000 of that will pay for the building of a schoolhouse in Kenya (complete with washroom) and a teacher's salary for a year. Remaining funds, as well as any more that are raised, will go towards school supplies or building a well for the village.
“It's been a real inspiration,” said Claire Ross Dunn, another MHP regular and project organizer. She mentioned the creative ways the congregation has raised money, including penny-rolling, youth playing music on Toronto streets, and selling farm-fresh asparagus during Sunday coffee hour. “It's all very exciting.”
The congregation works with Free the Children, the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in its education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free the Children has partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah's Angel Network.
The congregation is so passionate about the issue that they developed a kit on how to start your own schoolhouse project with Free the Children. The foundation is currently in discussions to build a study guide around the kit for use in classrooms.
For a free how-to kit: 416-766-4765; e-mail: morningsidehighpark@bellnet.ca. The kit is available in PDF at www.morningsidehighpark.com.
