Manitoulin Secondary School’s S.H.A.R.E. Committee lives up to its name

Manitoulin Secondary School students Cassie McColman, left, Vanessa Glasby and Janelle Addison are graduating this year, their lives deeply touched by the work they have done as members of the S.H.A.R.E. Committee.

Manitoulin Secondary School’s S.H.A.R.E. Committee has raised an impressive $21,000 for local and global projects in the past three years. Committee members include, back row, from left, Vanessa Glasby, Janelle Addison, and teacher Chantal Desbiens; and front row, from left, Jamie Groombridge, Cassie McColman and Rebecca Bailey.

They have built a primary school and freshwater well in Africa, purchased five sewing machines, 11 cows, 20 goats and 11 pigs, and provided help for the villagers in the Kono district of Sierra Leone to become economically self-sufficient. In the last three years, members of Manitoulin Secondary School’s S.H.A.R.E. Committee (Students Helping All ‘Round Everywhere) have raised an impressive $21,000 for various local and global projects. In the process, they have nurtured the next generation of global citizens.

The Committee recently completed its third campaign, an Alternative Income Project in support of Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children in the world. Committee Co-President Vanessa Glasby organized a very successful event, which raised $3,000.  Guests were treated to an authentic African buffet courtesy of a generous community member. The event featured speeches, a silent auction with items donated by local business owners, take-home gifts of “Pay-it-Forward” loonies and organic fair trade chocolates, and much more.

“The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and funds for the Committee’s Alternative Income Project to provide other sources of income and business training for the people of Sierra Leone,” said Glasby. “Blanketing impoverished countries with cash is not a solution. We must take the extra step to ensure that these people have the tools and support needed to improve their own lives and sustain themselves within their communities. The cycle of poverty can be broken.”
 
“None of this would have been possible without the generous support of the community of Manitoulin Island,” added Glasby. “These amazing accomplishments are only the beginning of a movement of social change started by the S.H.A.R.E. committee a mere three years ago.”
   
It is not uncommon to see S.H.A.R.E. Committee members trick-or-treating for non-perishable food items for the local food bank, walking around with tape in the form of an X on their mouths in a Vow of Silence, or starving themselves for 30 hours while sleeping on a hard school cafeteria floor on a Friday night.  “This small but powerful group of students has been able to rally their peers to participate in various school activities to raise not only money for their campaigns but also awareness of global hunger, poverty, social injustice and sustainability,” said Manitoulin Secondary School Principal Laurie Zahnow.

Four members of the committee are graduating this June, their lives deeply touched by the work they have done as members of S.H.A.R.E., including workshops and a trek to Toronto for the National We Day celebrations. “Three of the four graduates are studying international development and one is becoming a Developmental Service Worker,” said Principal Zahnow. “Their work with S.H.A.R.E. has no doubt had a significant impact on their postsecondary path.”

Janelle Addison is attending her second leadership academy in Toronto this August. Vanessa Glasby is travelling to Ecuador in July on a Me to We trip to build two schools. Cassie McColman has deferred her first year of university to travel and volunteer in Africa. "S.H.A.R.E. has become an irreplaceable part of my life that has shaped my goals and has taught me that no matter how impossible a task may at first appear, anything is possible," said McColman.   

The graduating students have all taken the time this year to put together a guidebook to pass on to the committee. “I feel so privileged to work with such compassionate students,” said teacher supervisor Chantal Desbiens. “They have given so much of themselves in everything that they have done and have built a solid foundation for those who will follow in their footsteps.”

Students were inspired to join the Me to We movement and support Free the Children after hearing co-founder Craig Kielburger speak in Sudbury in 2007. “Since then, students have participated in Roots and Shoots conferences with keynote speakers Marc Kielburger and Jane Goodall,” said teacher supervisor Willa Mallea.  “Both workshops helped the students connect social justice and environmental issues,” she said. “Students came to understand that these things cannot be compartmentalized. It’s impossible to speak about the environment without taking into consideration social justice issues of poverty, equal access to education, clean water, health care, and a better future for children.”

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Media Contact:

Laurie Zahnow, Principal, Manitoulin Secondary School,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-368-7000.