A.Y. Jackson students raise funds for children with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Jessica Cunha

---

EMC News - Students at A.Y. Jackson Secondary School raised over $2,000 at their annual fundraiser event for Kenya.

Twenty-nine students in the Grade 12 international business class partnered with Community Education Services Canada and Community Education Services Kenya to raise the funds during their Gala Dinner and Silent Auction for Kenya on Jan. 16 at the Kanata Holiday Inn & Suites.

"The students have come together and created an event that promotes awareness and encourages people to take action - to make a difference, one person at a time," said teacher Mark Hoogenraad. "It was a great experience, our students did a great job."

All the money raised from the event goes directly to Community Education Services Canada, which is partnered with its Kenya counterpart, to provide access to education for orphans and other children with HIV/AIDS living in Kenya.

The Grade 12 students worked extremely hard to ensure the event was a success, said Hoogenraad, because "every dollar raised will make a significant difference in the lives of their peers in Kenya."

The A.Y. Jackson Glee Club entertained the crowd during the evening, while Dr. Charles Mayenga, director of Community Education Services Canada, who recently returned from Kenya, was the keynote speaker at the event.

"He was very informative," said Hoogenraad. "He had lots of knowledge to bring about his organization."

In the current decade, HIV/AIDS will kill more people than all the wars and disasters in the past 50 years combined and more than 40 million people are infected with the disease, said the school board in a news release.

Community Education Services Canada's mandate is to build public awareness around the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.

jessica.cunha@metroland.com




blog comments powered by Disqus