In the words of former progressive anthropologist Margaret Meade, it takes only a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens to change the world. For Monroe Elementary School, that's exactly what a small group of young students decided to do.
After listening to an educational presentation on oppression and poverty around the world, the Student Council voted to challenge their peers to make a difference. By selling "bricks" made out of paper for 25 cents each, they raised over $300 toward building a school in Uganda, Africa.
"These kids don't have a lot to give, but they're willing to give so much," said Monroe principal Marlys Berg. The school gathered for their morning assembly last week and cheered for the accomplishment as Berg announced the final amount raised while one of the student council members handed a bag of full dollars and change over to Donavan Kennedy, co-founder of Yobel Market, the organization of partnership.
"Imagine the exponential knowledge and capability these kids will have in making a difference around the world, especially starting at such a young age," said Kennedy.
Terri Adams, a kindergarten teacher who heads up the Monroe Student Council said she heard about Yobel Market through a fellow teacher and decided to follow up and see what the organization was about. She visited Yobel's storefront in Old Colorado City and quickly caught the vision of partnership they have with projects across the globe; creating jobs and opportunities to keep families and individuals out of poverty and oppressive circumstances that would otherwise dictate their lives.
“You don't have to be an adult or of a certain race or gender to start a practical movement in your community,” said Yobel's co-owner. “This elementary school may have started something that will grow into something greater than they could have imagined, and it will be because they believed in working towards something bigger than themselves.”
Adams couldn't agree more.
"We have a mission to support the people here at Monroe, the local community around us and our world, so we try to do something each year to work towards those three things," she said. "When I heard about the mission of Yobel, I thought it would be great for the kids to hear and asked Donavan to come speak about it."
Donavan presented to the entire school after the Council decided to make a project out of it, and the kids caught the vision with enthusiasm.
"They were asking great questions and were really engaged with their ideas and discussions about the information they were given," he said. "They were getting the word out to their peers and even taking money out of their own piggy banks to donate in whatever way they could for this project."
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
After listening to an educational presentation on oppression and poverty around the world, the Student Council voted to challenge their peers to make a difference. By selling "bricks" made out of paper for 25 cents each, they raised over $300 toward building a school in Uganda, Africa.
"These kids don't have a lot to give, but they're willing to give so much," said Monroe principal Marlys Berg. The school gathered for their morning assembly last week and cheered for the accomplishment as Berg announced the final amount raised while one of the student council members handed a bag of full dollars and change over to Donavan Kennedy, co-founder of Yobel Market, the organization of partnership.
"Imagine the exponential knowledge and capability these kids will have in making a difference around the world, especially starting at such a young age," said Kennedy.
Terri Adams, a kindergarten teacher who heads up the Monroe Student Council said she heard about Yobel Market through a fellow teacher and decided to follow up and see what the organization was about. She visited Yobel's storefront in Old Colorado City and quickly caught the vision of partnership they have with projects across the globe; creating jobs and opportunities to keep families and individuals out of poverty and oppressive circumstances that would otherwise dictate their lives.
“You don't have to be an adult or of a certain race or gender to start a practical movement in your community,” said Yobel's co-owner. “This elementary school may have started something that will grow into something greater than they could have imagined, and it will be because they believed in working towards something bigger than themselves.”
Adams couldn't agree more.
"We have a mission to support the people here at Monroe, the local community around us and our world, so we try to do something each year to work towards those three things," she said. "When I heard about the mission of Yobel, I thought it would be great for the kids to hear and asked Donavan to come speak about it."
Donavan presented to the entire school after the Council decided to make a project out of it, and the kids caught the vision with enthusiasm.
"They were asking great questions and were really engaged with their ideas and discussions about the information they were given," he said. "They were getting the word out to their peers and even taking money out of their own piggy banks to donate in whatever way they could for this project."
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
