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Students Team Up to Help Kids in Angola

Posted on: Thursday, 12 January 2006, 21:00 CST

By Mary Randle

Students in the Community Leadership class at West Chicago's Community High School are spreading their influence beyond the District 94 area to the Republic of Angola.

They are joining with other school clubs and local businesses to help RISE International raise money and collect items, including school supplies and seeds.

Of the money raised, $10,000 will be used to build a school in Angola. Any remaining money will be used to buy books and other items needed for a child to attend school.

For 27 years, Angola was devastated by a civil war that destroyed most of the country, including its vital education system, leaving an entire generation unable to read or write.

The Community Leadership class decided to help the cause of rebuilding Angola's education system, which was started by RISE International, based in Winnetka. For details, visit www.riseinternational.org.

Community Leadership is a one-semester course taught by social studies teacher Mary Ellen Daneels. In the class, students explore what it means to be effective citizens.

"The students are really excited about this opportunity to have a positive impact on the children of Angola," Daneels said.

Student Stephanie Gore added, "Our hope is to be able to spread a little of our own good fortune around the world."

The Community Leadership students designed a "We-Go 2 Africa" logo, brochure and T-shirt. To date, they've already sold $900 worth of shirts during lunch periods at the high school.

Then they made presentations to other classes to encourage them to get involved in the project. The school's foreign language classes, in partnership with International Club, raised $1,100 through a pocket change drive, where students contributed half and were matched by the foreign language department teachers.

Other classes, including Maggie Haas' geography class, Aaron Hayes' math class, Julie Johnson's English classes and Patti Kozlowski's child development and advanced clothing classes, plan to be involved in another aspect of the project by raising funds for backpacks filled with school supplies and constructing school uniforms to be sent to the Angolan children. The English students will write poetry to be included with the backpacks.

Daneels hopes to go to Africa this summer with other RISE International team members to help build the school. So far, 30 schools have been constructed and are now providing an education to more than 14,750 Angolan children.

"Our students hope our community will join them in this effort," Daneels said.

To find out how you can help, or to schedule a student presentation for your group or organization, call Daneels at (630) 876-6453 or e-mail mdaneels@@d94.org.

Source: Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.

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