Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Arctic Bay (Jan 10/00) - If the requirements to get past heaven's Pearly Gates include selfless acts of volunteerism, a group of a dozen or so students are in luck when they cross on over to the other side.

Involved in what's known as the High School Cafe at Inuujaq school in Arctic Bay, the group continually throws their energy into projects -- fund-raising or otherwise -- that require assistance. In doing so, they learn about leadership and good-natured volunteering.

For example, as well as drumming up cash for school projects, including paying for passports and purchasing school jackets for the graduating class in 1998, the students have assisted the organizers of the upcoming dog-team race, the Nunavut Quest, by working their magic at the fund-raising dances and boosting the number of dollars collected.

They also regularly bake and sell nutritional goods to their classmates and occasionally host dinners for community groups, including a recent pizza and fried chicken dinner for the elders.

"They really liked it and they're hoping we can do it again for them," said Teresa Barnabas, 17.

"It's just a little something to cheer the elders up," she said.

So what's it all boil down to besides a free pass into the great beyond?

According to co-ordinator and Inuujaq school teacher Ron Elliott, the students are earning a reputation for themselves, which one day, will likely help them gain employment in the community.

"They put a lot more into it than they get out of it," said Elliott.

"It will help them get a job, I'm positive. They already have people in the community coming to them. People know that if the High School Cafe says they're going to do something, they're actually going to do it," he said.

That reliability, along with the money management and business skills they've picked up, is fertile ground for the seeds of future business ventures.

Barnabas said she already has her eye on a career that will allow her to be her own boss.

"There's a house we want to buy for a future business. We're trying to talk about ways of getting a bed and breakfast," she said.

For Tyson Attagutsiak, his future plans will likely involve the crunching of numbers. Citing the financial matters he's learned as his favourite, the 14-year-old is learning all that he can from the credited program.

"I'm learning about budgeting, saving money and making deposits," he said.