December 21st, 2017
Abdi Maawiye is a dedicated social worker making a big impact in our schools and around the world. Abdi founded Education 4 Change in response to his own personal struggle to obtain education while growing up in Ethiopia. Education 4 Charge is largely run by the volunteer efforts of WRDSB employees and other members of the local community. All the proceeds raised go directly to local and sustainable education programming in the remote villages of the Kelafo district.
Education 4 Change is on a mission to help children reach their full potential through education. The organization has funded the hiring of two teachers and a mobile school. The mobile school consists of a cart filled with educational supplies pulled by a donkey named Breslau, named in honour of the the school, Breslau Public School, that fundraised for him.
Carson with a few of the Education 4 Change students in Ethiopia.
Carson Briggs, a Grade 9 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, had the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia this past summer, accompanying Abdi Maawiye and his mother and Education 4 Change Vice-President, Chandra Hunter.
Carson found the experience to be very uplifting, “I thought it was amazing how different it was than it was here. It really amazed me how much responsibility the kids have there. It was a lot different than I expected it to be. Everyone seemed happy and were always smiling.”
Currently, 10 of our school are involved in Education 4 Change fundraising, and organizers are hoping to inspire more schools to participate. The organization is currently focused on purchasing furniture for a new library and stocking it with books. Student volunteers are heavily involved in all their fundraisers. With this new initiative, volunteers are hoping to find a community organization to partner with to help with their biggest challenge – shipping costs.
Visit Education 4 Change to learn how you can get involved in their fundraising efforts. If you would like more information on how your school or organization can get involved please contact Chandra Hunter.
We are counting down 12 days of giving where we feature some of the wonderful acts of kindness our staff and students are modelling during the holiday season.
You can check out all of the great acts of giving in our schools (there’s more than just 12) by following us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
#WRDSBGives