The EOES C.A.R.E Club is closing in on its second year of existence having just finished its second-annual community garage sale in the parking lot of the Ecolé Olds Elementary School.
Sylvia Martens began the club with another teacher in the school year of 2009/2010 as a way of getting kids to think more about others.
Since then other EOES teachers (including Helene Fisher, Mary Schatz, and Debbie Unger) and their classes have joined the group. And although she's currently on maternity leave, Martens continues to meet with the club in the art room after school on Thursdays.
“So many more kids have become involved; kids from Deer Meadow and Olds High want to make a difference as well,” said Martens.
But who would have guessed that in just two short years, they would have nearly raised the $15,000 target they set that will pay for the building of a school for the children of India.
To date, C.A.R.E. Club has raised over $11,500, and with this year's garage sale, they hope to raise even more.
Over the two years the club has now been active, they've welcomed numerous speakers from Central Alberta Refugee Effort (C.A.R.E.), which has been helping refugees from various countries settle in Canada for over 30 years.
“We started with bringing in speakers so that the kids would hear about other people's situations, which would build empathy,” said Martens.
“These speakers lived in Red Deer, but they would travel to Olds to share their stories. Some were refugees escaping war, getting out of poverty, etc.”
These speakers have come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, El Salvador, Republic of Congo, and India, among others.
The Albertan interviewed C.A.R.E club members to get a sense of the impact the club has had on them.
“That's my favourite memory,” said Jordan, a C.A.R.E. club member. “They'd come and tell us stuff about their life.”
Jordan said a memorable story he learned of in the club was about a boy who'd survived an encounter with a landmine.
“He lost his arms and stuff.”
Another club member mentioned how Afghani girls have to pursue education in secret, something she couldn't imagine having to do.
Eventually moved by the stories they were hearing, the C.A.R.E. club decided to raise funds that would build a school for kids in one of the countries they had learned about through the speakers that came to their meetings.
“We partnered with Free the Children. It's about kids helping kids in the world,” said Martens.
Craig Kielburger began Free the Children with a group of friends when he was a mere 12 years old. Now nearly 16 years later, the group has successfully built over 600 schools for impoverished nations across the globe, and is the world's largest network of children helping children (source: www.freethechildren.com).
The club is also dedicated to random acts of kindness, which range from raking a neighbour's front lawn or shovelling their sidewalks, to larger, group efforts like last week, when they picked garbage from around EOES, the Olds Sportsplex, Olds Municipal Library, and from the community.
Martens explained that the meetings are cyclical, so that week one a speaker will come, week two, the club extends helping hands to the community through volunteer work, and week three is dedicated to fundraising efforts for the school in India.
“Even if this fundraiser raises the remaining money to build the school, we're still going to continue C.A.R.E. club, because there are still more things that need to be done, whether it's the Olds community or the global community.”
The C.A.R.E club held a used book sale in March, which was originally intended to raise funds for the India project, but the group decided to use it elsewhere.
Montana, an attendee of the club, said her favourite part of the year was how much money they raised at the book sale.
“We decided, because of that big earthquake in Japan, to give it to the Red Cross to help rebuild it [Japan],” said Montana.
Approximately $740 was raised from the sale and donated to the Canadian Red Cross to help relief efforts for Japan, said Martens.
Many students were excited about the second annual garage sale.
To wrap up the year, the C.A.R.E. Club is planning a big potluck and cultural festival, where past speakers and current club members will all bring a meal from their country to share with one another.
The C.A.R.E. Club has made leaps and bounds in fostering a selfless attitude in the kids of EOES.
Avery said the C.A.R.E. club has changed the way she thinks about children in other countries.
“It changed from ‘me' to ‘we',” said C.A.R.E club member Emma.
Michael, another member, said he no longer thinks that going to war is something to be sought after.
“I used to think going to war was fun, but I don't anymore,” he said.
“It makes me realize that going to school is actually a privilege,” said Katie.
Ashley said her participation in the club has made her care more about other people.
“People in other countries don't get the privileges that we do,” said Zachary.
“It kind of breaks your heart when you see what other kids have to do, and what we get to do,” said Helena.
Montana said she loves to volunteer in the community.
“My next door neighbour, I help her a lot. She really appreciates it, and I don't need anything in return.”
“Us kids here have the privilege of going to school. In other countries, some people can't go to school, so they have to work.”
She also suggested an idea very similar to one seen in the 1994 movie Pay It Forward.
“You can do anything in the community just to help out one person,” said Montana.
“You might make a change in them, so then more people will start helping more people, and it will make a big difference.”
