April 10, 2007
Peel board students say 'we can change the world' during workshop series
CPAR's Japhet Emmanuel helps students understand impact of community-level development
More than 150 grade 7 and 8 students from the Peel District School Board have been participating in workshops during February, March and April designed to help youth realize their leadership potential and understand Canada's role in global development. Through hands-on activities like the production of public service announcements, a letter-writing project to Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs and a mock community meeting in Tanzania, students have developed a new understanding of what development is and how they can help change the world.
"It's very important to expose students to real-world issues and help them to understand the role they play in international development," says Jim Grieve, director of education for the Peel board. "For more than five years, our Student Leadership for Global Development program has helped to foster leadership skills and encouraging critical thinking. This year's leadership workshops are just one part of a much larger program that extends learning beyond the walls of the classroom."
The current workshops were designed by facilitators from Elephant Thoughts and Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR). Students worked with Elephants Thoughts during February and March and are working with CPAR during April. CPAR's workshop includes a special guest who has flown from Tanzania to share his story of growing up in rural Tanzania and to help students understand the impact of community-level development in his country. Japhet Emmanuel, program director for CPAR Tanzania, will also be visiting Peel schools to speak to students when he is not facilitating workshops. Workshops are taking place at the HJA Brown Education Centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 11, 13, 17 and 18. School visits will take place on April 12, 16, 19, 20, 26 and 27.
The workshops will wrap up with a special reception for participants and their parents on April 19 at 7 p.m.. The event will include a premiere screening of the finished public service announcements, as well as a presentation of school supplies collected by students for Emmanuel to take home to Tanzania.
"We're very thankful to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for helping to make these workshops possible," says Janet McDougald, chair of the Peel board. "It is through funding from CIDA's Global Classroom Initiative that we have been able to provide such innovative programs for our students and teachers."
The HJA Brown Education Centre is located at 5650 Hurontario Street in Mississauga.
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Media contact: Sylvia Link, Manager of Communications, 905-890-1010 (or 1-800-668-1146) ext. 2814, sylvia.link@peelsb.com
Reference: Alison Farbar, School Communications Specialist, 905-890-1010, ext. 2098, alison.farbar@peelsb.com
Note to media: Media is invited to attend the workshops, school visits or the wrap-up event on April 19. Japhet Emmanuel is available for interviews. For more information on these opportunities, contact Alison Farbar at 905-890-1010, ext. 2098.
