Children support Third World

Local schools build solidarity through Holy Childhood Assocoiation

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

"They are imitating the child Jesus, who did good deeds while growing up," said association spiritual director Father Michael Troy.

Youngsters involved in the program raise funds to be sent to Guyana, Kenya and East Timor.

The archdiocesan group is among the top contributors in Canada. While raising funds is important, the Holy Childhood focuses on educating youngsters so they develop solidarity with the poor.

"Children living in a place like Canada must realize that not every child in the world has what they have," Troy said.

The awareness program also incorporates Gospel study for the children.

As for the donations, "They can't give anything big because they don't have it," said Troy. "But in some ways they are much more generous than adults are."

"It's a good thing to be able to share a little bit of what we have with other (children)." - Danica Chabot

Still, with the participation of 24 schools in the archdiocese, they were able to collect $16,000 that will be sent to the hungry overseas. The donations were presented to Archbishop Thomas Collins during a Mission Day Mass at Holy Family Church in St. Albert May 1.

Since the association started celebrating its Mission Day Mass, the event has moved around to different venues in the archdiocese alternating between the rural and city areas.

"We find that people would still travel wherever we have the Mass," said executive secretary Marian Cordwell. "It's incredible to see the Holy Childhood grow in the past five years."

Some groups put on projects - pancake lunches, walkathons, bake sales - during Lent while others collect money throughout the year. Children also donate during the offering of gifts at some parishes.

The youngsters were creative with their fundraising efforts. For example students at Frere Antoine Catholic School, one of the top contributors this year, raised money through a carnival and a hunger lunch.

Ten-year-old Keith Baldry said, "I learned the value of sharing and helping other people. It is a good thing to do that because not everybody is well off."

Kirsten Padilla agreed. "I learned through this project that we're helping other people, who are less fortunate. It's really good that we're actually making an effort to try and help them and give them a better chance of life."

For Danica Chabot, 11, the project made her think how fortunate she is. "It's a good thing to be able to share a little bit of what we have with other (children)."

Ten-year-old Henry Morales discovered the venture "helps you not to take things for granted and not to throw away what we have, but give them to people who don't have them. We're lucky and we have to share."

Rudy del Rosario really enjoyed the hunger lunch. "It was kind of nice because we reflected on God and we did that with our classmates and friends."

This is the first year Frere Antoine Catholic School has been directly involved with the Holy Childhood.

"It's been a very good experience for the (students)," said principal Joe Roberts. "I think they can do something to help and in the process of doing something to help they can enjoy sharing with others. Service is something that we've tried to make a very important aspect of our mission at the school. It was a wonderful collaboration between parents, (students) and staff."

And there is a real learning component to this humanitarian venture. Dawn Kirvan of Greater St. Albert Catholic School Division, says, "The program is about more than fundraising. Children are also taught the history and geography of each country along with the challenges faced in each one."

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