May 7, 2007

Bramalea Secondary School students help prepare for future, walk to eliminate world hunger

Bramalea Secondary School is helping to achieve the first United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goal to "to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger" on May 11. More than 1700 students will participate in the World Food Programme's FightHunger: Walk the World 2007 event by taking to the streets to raise awareness and funds in the Brampton community.

"The walk demonstrates and develops student awareness of world humanitarian issues. This is also the first time a Peel school has pledged to help meet the UN Millennium Development Goals," says Jennifer Ojalammi, teacher at Bramalea. "We're helping to meet international goals through education. The walk represents a culmination of our interest and commitment to fulfilling the global need for basic necessities. Both the students and teachers are very eager to help."

The walk will begin at 8:45 a.m. when students and staff will leave the Bramalea school grounds. In combination with the walk, students have put effort into fundraising donations through bake sales, dance buy-outs, homeroom competitions and pledge forms, with all the proceeds donated directly to the World Food Programme. To date, Bramalea has raised $2000.

The UN developed eight Millennium Development Goals at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. The goals were designed to meet the needs of underdeveloped nations by combating hunger, disease, poverty, illiteracy, gender inequality and environmental damage by 2015. The World Food Programme is a division of the United Nations that provides food to more than 90 million people in 80 countries.

Bramalea Secondary School is located at 510 Balmoral Drive in Brampton.

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Media contacts:  Elaine Topping, Principal, Bramalea Secondary School, 905-793-2400

Jennifer Ojalammi, Teacher, Bramalea Secondary School, 905-793-2400, ext. 435