SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Students at Weledeh Catholic School raised an estimated $1,000 by taking a vow of silence last week – an event organized by the school's social justice group, the Wolves for the World.

Students who participated in the vow of silence at Weledeh Catholic School last week are, back row from left, Athena Goddard, Stephanie Macusi, Kateri Lynn, Colleen Nagel, Bernice Kapolak. Front row from left, Lisa Brule, Ashley Ongahak, Elizabeth Ewan and Mariam Gabrielyan. - Photo courtesy of Jenny Reid

Fifteen students are members of the group and 18 participated in the vow March 1, as it was open to everyone.

For 24 hours students were not allowed to talk, e-mail, text message, make hand gestures, mime, sign language or even mouth words. Notes were allowed as long as the information was important or related to class activities.

"I wanted to see what it was like not to talk," said Breanna Sterand, a Grade 5 student who raised $450.

"Because we help people around the world and locally I think it makes the world a better place."

Jenny Reid, a teacher and adviser for the Wolves for the Word, also participated in the campaign and saw the difficulty students encountered without being able to talk.

"They realized that it can be frustrating trying to live your life without being heard."

This is the third year the wolves have had a vow of silence.

The money raised by the students went to Food Rescue, which collects food that would normally go to waste and donates it to organizations around Yellowknife.

Jamie Chetwynd, an adviser for the Wolves for the World, said that rather than raising money for overseas causes the students decide to focus on local initiatives.

"Local initiatives will help the kids learn what our issues are in the North," said Chetwynd.

"These organizations work with the school and with the community."

Enika Fontanilla, a Grade 6 student, said one of the reasons she participated in the fundrasier for other children who don't have a voice who suffer from injustices such as child abuse.

"It was hard," said Fontanilla. "I raised money for people in the community who don't have as much as us."