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Yellowknife boy gives big Heather Lange Northern News Services Published Friday, July 1, 2011
There was a domino effect that took place in getting Hobbs-Peddle involved, which all started with a trip to Kenya by members of the Wile family. Wendy Wile is a counsellor at Mildred Hall Elementary School, and a main organizer for wider Kenyan fundraising efforts at Sir John Franklin High School. She was instrumental in bringing Eric Rajah, the co-founder of A Better Life, a volunteer humanitarian organization based in Alberta, to Mildred Hall. "My husband and son went to Kenya three years ago with Eric Rajah, and checked on the school. Eric asked them if they might be interested in helping Kenyans," said Wile. Hobbs-Peddle heard Rajah speak at Mildred Hall and was hooked on the stories he was hearing. "He showed us a slide show and I saw some of the kids who had nothing and I felt bad for them and had it in my mind to raise money for them, and I did," said Hobbs-Peddle. With the help of his mom, Vera Peddle, he canvassed the neighborhood, going door-to-door and phoning family and friends in Yellowknife, Alberta and Newfoundland to donate for the school in Kenya. "There are no words I can put out to say how proud I am. I never even thought he would put such a big effort into this," said Peddle. Hobbs-Peddle said the greatest reward for him will be seeing the expression on the children's faces when the classrooms are opened, an experience which will become a realty. "I want to see the kids faces because I'm going to be sent a video to show me," said Hobbs-Peddle. Hobbs-Peddle received an Eagle Quest Award from Mildred Hall for his ability to see a situation where he can help in the global community, and to grasp the opportunity. His entire school jumped on board with the fundraising efforts, holding hot dog sales, pancake breakfasts and a coin drive to raise $4,750, which they gave to Sir John Franklin students and topped up the grand total to $18,000 raised out of the $21,000 needed for the three classrooms to be built. "What Mildred Hall gave us was a great big boost," said Wile. Once the fundraising is done for the classrooms, which the Sir John Franklin contingent hopes will be completed after hosting a Canada Day food booth fundraiser and a bottle recycling program, Wile said 20 Sir John students along with six adults will start fundraising to send the group to the Kenyan school in March 2012. Once there, they will see the newly built classrooms, immerse themselves in the community and participate in events with the school children. Elementary schools in Yellowknife will be getting involved by packing up suitcases for the high school students to take along which will be full of essentials such as shoes and school supplies. The Simotwet Primary School is located in the tea plantation area of central Kenya where most families are living in poverty according to the A Better World website. Right now, there are 265 high school students, 51 nursery school students and seven teachers at the school. With adequate facilities, the community has the potential of doubling this enrolment. After the three classrooms are completed, the Yellowknife group hopes to refurbish six more classrooms and add a water and toilet system in the school.
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