Project Goodness update!

It has been a while since we’ve updated our website, but don’t be fooled, we’ve been busier than ever!  Below you can find a recap of our winter session that took place from January-March 2011.  Right now we are smack dab in the middle of our Spring session that will culminate in a couple of weeks.  We will soon post an update on that as well.  In the meantime, you can get updated on all the fabulous things our little do-gooders are up to below.  Also if you are on Facebook, Project Goodness has a fan page with additional pictures and info!  (https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Project-Goodness/121572324540309) Please make sure to “Like” us while you’re at it!  Thanks

In the winter session, we worked with 3 new great organizations for our Project Goodness giving projects;  Heifer International, The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, and Operation Smile.

This time around, the students giving projects were bigger and involved more of their school.  For example, the 5^th grade class that chose Operation Smile as their giving project, not only learned in depth about the organization, but they put together a short video explaining what the organization does (gives free surgeries to children around the world that are born with cleft lips and cleft palates) and it was presented to the entire school. They also sold “Smiley Grams” at recess and lunch for 50 cents, with the goal of raising at least $240 (the cost of an Operation Smile surgery.) When all was said and done, these students raised an impressive $340, enough to pay for a life changing surgery for a child and some additional medical equipment and tools for the volunteer staff.  The students felt empowered as a class and rewarded in compassion for knowing that they were able to help change someone’s life for the better.

One of the 2^nd grade classes learned about the importance of clean and safe water.  Many times when you teach children about poverty and the difference between what we have here in the states, and what some countries deal with on a daily basis, it can be very eye opening.  This was exactly the case for this class.  We learned all about poverty and what that means, and we learned about different countries and communities that live in poverty. Countries like Ethiopia and Uganda were discussed quite frequently.  The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program is a charitable organization through Procter and Gamble, and this organization has created “safe drinking water packets” through PUR drinking water.  A tiny packet is poured into 2 ½ gallons of dirty and unsafe water, and within a matter of minutes, the water is purified right before your eyes.  The dirt sinks to the bottom, and the bacteria and parasites are killed.  Children living in poverty are dying daily because of the unsafe drinking water they consume.  With every sip of water they are taking a gamble with their life.  With these small packets from PUR we are helping entire communities live longer, healthier, disease free lives.

When the students learned that each packet only cost 10 cents, and that $1.00 could give a child clean drinking water for 50 days, they were on a mission to make a difference.  They presented the water experiment with the PUR packet in front of the whole school, along with facts about children living in poverty and how they don’t have access to clean water.  They inspired their entire school to help.  When all was said and done, they had raised enough money to provide 2,150 PUR packets to communities living in poverty!  (or  we were able to provide someone with clean drinking water for 10,750 days! OR 29 years & 4mos!) OR, we helped 7 families (of 5) have clean water for an entire year. We were all so overjoyed with their accomplishments!

The other 2^nd grade class worked with an organization called Heifer International.  Heifer is an amazing organization that has been around for many years.  They provide livestock animals for families in need, helping to create a sustainable environment.  They look to give people a “hand up” not a “hand out.”  By giving these families a cow, a goat, a sheep etc. they are then able to take the milk from the cow or goat, or wool from the sheep, and provide nutrition or goods for themselves, but also they are able to sell the rest. With the profits of their sales, they are then able to send their children to school, pay for medical and housing needs, etc.  Heifer trains all the families in sustainable and eco friendly farming methods.  Heifer also requires that the animal’s first born female baby be passed along to another family in the community.   Heifer calls this “passing on the gift,” and it ensures that more and more families, and eventually entire communities will be able to support and educate themselves.  This was a great way for the children to understand the “pay it forward” mentality.

Heifer also provides fabulous lesson plans and resources for teachers, and I was able to get a lot of help with the lesson plans this way.  They sent along a fabulous book to read to the class that was based on a true Heifer International story.  The book is called “Beatrice’s Goat,” and tells how a young girl living in Uganda gets a goat from Heifer, and how it changes her life for the better.  After reading that story, my students were determined to raise enough money to buy a goat.  A goat cost $120.  Besides the in class Giving Jar, these students participated in a program called “Read to Feed.”  They had family and friends “sponsor” them monetarily for every book they read.  This encouraged reading of the students, so the parents and the teachers LOVED this!  On our last day of class we added up all our money, and found out that they had raised an astonishing $500.34!!  That was enough money for 4 goats and a flock of ducks!  They were more than thrilled with their accomplishments, and I couldn’t have been happier!

Here is some more feedback from the students and teachers about the Winter Session:

“Project Goodness has taught me that I have the power to change the world for the better.” ~Anita 5^th grade

“One of the most meaningful lessons that Project Goodness has taught me is that “every little bit counts.” It really got me thinking that anyone can make a positive difference if they try.” ~Josh  5^th grade

 

“If you teach children about kindness and goodness, they will be able to teach others the lessons they’ve learned.  Sometimes adults need to be reminded of these lessons too!” ~Boyan 5^th grade

 

“It’s important to teach children about compassion because there is so much conflict in the world.  I love learning about positive ways to make a difference—it empowers me!” ~Rachel 5^th grade

 

“Kids are our future, and if they learn about kindness, our world will be a better place.” ~Ashlyn 5^th grade

 

“It’s important for kids to understand that even a little kindness can make a BIG difference.” ~ Sami 5^th grade

 

“Project Goodness has taught me that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything!” ~Shelby 5^th grade

 

“Before Project Goodness I never thought about doing anything for others.  I didn’t really know that I could do anything helpful because I’m just a kid!  But Project Goodness taught me that I CAN make a difference no matter what my age—I understand that now!” ~Jack 5^th grade

 

“I’ve learned from Project Goodness that no matter how big or how old you are, you can still make a difference.” ~ Alli 2^nd grade

 

“Project Goodness taught me that “every little bit counts,” and that means even if you help out, even in a tiny way, it still means something.  Small things count because it means we can all make a change if we try.” ~Isabel 2^nd grade

 

“It is important to teach children about kindness and goodness, so they won’t be hurtful to others or make bad choices. Instead;  they’ll help others.” ~Nicole, 2^nd grade

 

“Project Goodness taught me a lot of good things that I didn’t really do or know.  Now that I know, I want to grow up and be a philanthropist like Ms. Alli.”

~ Madison 2^nd grade

“We spend most of our time now in schools teaching academic standards.  I feel personal growth is very important to children.  Project Goodness is a wonderful and organized way to start children on their own path of personal growth. Project Goodness helped my children realize that their life can be full of wonderful possibilities that they can actually initiate and accomplish.”

~Joni Simon, 5^th grade teacher, Westlake Hills Elementary

“It is so important to teach our children about kindness, goodness, compassion and giving back—all the values taught in the Project Goodness program.  At this age children learn life lessons that stay with them forever—it leaves and impression that can help shape who they become as adults!”

 Kathy Zika, 2^nd grade teacher, Beckford Ave. Elementary

Project Goodness has just started the Spring Session this week in 2 more schools.  The Spring session will go until June 2011. 

Besides being incredibly busy and involved with the actual Project Goodness programs, Project Goodness is also fully functioning as a non-profit organization.  We are currently in the process of putting together our board of directors (we have some very experienced and powerful people who are interested in helping Project Goodness grow, which is incredibly exciting!)  We are also looking at long and short term goals regarding fundraising, applying for grants, etc.  We have already done some smaller fundraisers and have been able to raise some additional funds in public donations.

In conclusion, Project Goodness has had an immense amount of forward movement since we have won our Pepsi Refresh grant.  The Pepsi grant has allowed Project Goodness to become a reality and a truly inspiring program.  We plan to continue our journey of empowering more students one little hand at a time, and to continue to teach the Project Goodness mantra of, “every little bit counts!”