June 30, 2010 11:57AM
'Buy a water bottle and help kids around the world!'
Gilberto Corral
Educator, Action Center to End World Hunger
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Third through fifth grade members of the Action Centre’s Hang Out for Change programme set up shop selling bottled water near their school to raise money to raise money toward ensuring families in other countries have clean drinking water. Photo: Mercy Corps
“Buy a water bottle, buy a pin! You can help kids around the world!”
This was the sound of “action” that could be heard up and down Warren Street, as Public School 89 dismissed classes for the day. Just blocks away from the New York Action Centre to End World Hunger, the third through fifth grade members of the Action Centre’s Hang Out for Change programme had adventurously set up shop just feet away from the neighborhood ice-cream truck. They were selling bottles of water and homemade pins with facts about water conservation, access to clean water, and the consequences of not having clean water.
After a semester dedicated to visiting the Action Centre every Tuesday in order to learn more about various global issues like hunger, poverty and world health, these youngsters were ready to take action. Armed with knowledge, posters, pamphlets, enthusiasm, and an entrepreneurial spirit they truly intended to combine action with awareness in order to make an impact!
As the first round of students began to be picked up by their parents, guardians, and nannies it appeared the ice-cream truck was the more popular afterschool attraction. These ambitious youth regrouped and asked for my advice on how they could increase business. They were quick to decline the idea of lowering their prices, however. Their rebuttal was that if they didn’t sell their goods for the predetermined price they would not meet their goal of raising enough to purchase both Children’s Food and Children’s Health Mercy Kits. So, charged with raising funds for the betterment of their peers throughout the world they were not about to be defeated by soft serve ice cream.
They quickly upped the energy with which they were singing their catchy marketing jingle and began to march up and down the street holding brightly coloured posters displaying water facts.
A few of the students brought out their homemade sand water filtration systems which they had used earlier in the day during their in-class presentations about access to clean water, and began to demonstrate the science behind these elementary water filters. They used both of these tactics to gain the attention of passer-bys and soon were flooded by children and parents alike who were intrigued to know more about their project and this global issue of which they were so unaware. As the number of students who were waiting to be picked up, and their stock of merchandise dwindled, a feeling of satisfaction could be seen taking over the group. Even their white “Be a Hunger Action Hero” caps could not hide the glow of fulfillment that emanated from their faces.
As we counted the money they had made during their afterschool sale, I found myself thinking back to the beginning of the semester, when these now energetic global citizens were reluctant 9-, 10-, and 11-year-olds. I feel very humbled and proud to have had the opportunity to witness and play a small role in their transformation.
I am also very proud to inform you that our Hang Out for Change cohort was able to meet their goal and raise enough money to purchase both Mercy Kits.
