SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Kevin Durkee, 15, is the only NWT resident in a team of 65, headed to Nicaragua to deliver boxes of gifts to children, as well as provide assistance with construction, and to local health outfits.

Kevin Durkee, 15, will be going to Nicaragua this August to deliver boxes of gifts to children, as well as provide assistance with construction, and to local health outfits, all as part of the Operation Christmas Child program. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

Durkee said the team will be going down there for two weeks this August, all as part of the Operation Christmas Child program, the main component of which is collecting shoe boxes full of gifts from communities where the program is active, and sending them south.

"It's something that I've always done, but as I've gotten older I guess I've realized more of what it actually meant," said Durkee.

"It really has gotten me to reach out to people through doing this and shows that Christians can reach out to people not just through word but through helping children as well," he said.

Barbara Beaton organizes the program in Yellowknife, which she said has been going on for at least six years.

"What's delivered to us (from Samaritan's Purse, the international organizers of the program) are empty boxes with pamphlets that describe what the program is about, along with suggestions on things that can go in it," said Beaton.

"People are then tasked with filling the box for one of three age ranges of kids and then returning the box," she said.

The age ranges are two to four, five to nine, and 10 to 14 years old.

"The boxes are being shipped to developing countries so it will be items that can be useful to them," said Beaton. "We try to have something that's fun but useful as well," she added, "like a wind-up radio or a toolkit" for the older kids.

Operation Christmas Child is mainly promoted through local churches, but with the help of Durkee last fall, it was brought into Sir John Franklin High School.

"He was the youngest member on our core team in Yellowknife," said Beaton, who was impressed by his initiative.

He presented the idea to the principal, Patricia Teskey, and promoted it actively within the school with things such as a video clip he made that was played on the school's TVs.

Also, Durkee sat at the Co-op with his family, dressed as a large gift box, to advertise the program.

"(He's) an absolute keener. Really a passionate young man," said Beaton.

After last year's promotion wrapped up, Durkee was approached with the offer to go down south.

"When I finished doing the Operation Christmas Child for Yellowknife, a representative came up to talk to us about doing (the trip)," said Durkee.

"At the time I kind of said 'Well, I'll think about it,' and when March or April came I decided that hey, this would be a fun thing to do. I got my application together and I sent it down and my name was already on the list."

Durkee said he doesn't know all the details of the trip yet, but he's very excited to do it and enjoy what will be an eye-opening experience.