SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - On March 4 students from J.H. Sissons joined approximately 75,000 students across Canada to assemble kits of school supplies with personal letters to students in Haiti.

The students managed to send 192 kits this year as part of Project Love, a global education program initiated by CODE, a Canadian organization that delivers education materials. Caroline Roux, literacy coach at J.H. Sissons, hopes the program will help teach the students to become better global citizens.

"They live in different parts of the world," said Roux. "It's a good opportunity for them to realize how fortunate they are."

She said the program is well-organized. A DVD was given to the students showing packages sent to Ottawa and then to the third world. "It gives them a visual and makes it real for them," said Roux.

Students from preschool to Grade 5 were involved in the project. Depending on the age of the students, they either drew a picture or wrote a letter. Teachers also put kits together for teachers in Haiti.

Grade 4 student Jesper Sorensen learned why they sent specific items.

"If you sent one Spider-man (action figure) but there were two kids who like Spider-man, they would fight over it," said Sorensen.

"You don't need toys as much as you need school supplies."

The students' kits included rulers, pencils, eraser and writing books. Since the project was created in 1987 it has helped distribute over 1.5 million school kits to students in Africa and the Caribbean.

"It makes you feel good to be helping someone other than yourself," said Grade 2 student Jenaya Hanninen. "When I'm older I want to help people."

Students were already asking Roux what country they will donate to next year.

"I hope we do this again," said Grade 4 student Aisha Deliah Hashi.

"Canada has received so much, we should give back and when you do it touches your heart."