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WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE
She might only be in Grade 1, but Leah Reed knows why her class at Mezi Community School in Whati is raising money for children in South Africa.

"Because we feel good and they feel good," she said about helping others.

Reed's Grade 1 and 2 class is fundraising for the Salem Orphanage Home in Kisumu, Kenya, thanks to teacher Crystal Jedrzejewski. Jedrzejewski, who spent time as a volunteer at the orphanage, said the goal is to both help raise funds and teach students about Kisume, including the similarities between the two communities.

For example, Jedrzejewski said students have noted that Whati is on Lac La Martre and Kisumu is on Lake Victoria, which means families in both places catch and eat fish.

"We've been talking about our own families and our own communities," Jedrzejewski said. "We're looking at similarities and differences and how we can help."

The school hosted a fish fry at the Cultural Centre on Sept. 27, which aimed to raise $1,000. Students and community members helped with the event.

"We both live on lakes and eat fish, we thought a fish fry would be very reasonable to have," Jedrzejewski said. "All of the proceeds that we make will go directly to the organization."

Learning about the orphanage has also provided a way to teach the students about their own culture, including watching community members catching and filleting fish.

Jedrzejewski said although she is a newcomer to the community, she is touched by how many residents are helping the Salem Orphanage Home.

"I find it's always an amazing thing when people from different communities and backgrounds are opening their hearts and community to the idea of someone else's community," she said. "I think that's an inspiring thing, that you can meet those people wherever you go."

Jedrzejewski said she knows the orphanage is a worthy cause. The home, which was founded in 1992 by pastors Phoebe and John Onyango, now provides care to 65 children. It also includes a school, which is attended by more than 600 children.

Jedrzejewski said due to a lack of funds, the home has had to reduce its meal plan from three meals a day to one.

"We're trying to help them feed the orphans that are there right now," she said. "The kids are down to only having one meal a day."

Reed said to her, that's exactly why fundraising is so important.

"We're raising money because they need some food," she said.

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