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St. Joe's class project gives back
Students craft assignment to support friend staying at Ronald McDonald House

Kirsten Fenn
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 22, 2017

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two St. Joseph School students are paying it forward by donating funds they raised through a class project to support a friend who is living at the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver.

NNSL photograph

Grade 7 student Aliza Shah, left, teacher Kathy Lovatt and Grade 7 student Jordan Muchenje pose at St. Joseph School, where the two students have been raising money for the Ronald McDonald House in Vancouver. - Kirsten Fenn/NNSL photo

Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable place for families to stay when they have a sick child being treated at a hospital, according to the organization's website.

Aliza Shah and Jordan Muchenje, who are both in Grade 7, raised nearly $300 for the organization this spring after designing a bake sale on campus.

It was part of 20 Time, an assignment doled out in English teacher Kathy Lovatt's class that required students to come up with a project of interest to them and follow it through similar to a business plan.

"It's completely up to them what they're doing and how they're doing it but there are steps along the way," said Lovatt.

She explained students had to come up with a pitch, track their progress in a blog and provide feedback to their fellow peers.

Once their work was complete, they delivered a presentation reflecting on their projects.

Together, Shah and Muchenje sold homemade cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, cereal bars, lemon squares and other goods baked by teachers at their school, raising a total $274.10.

While it may not seem like a lot, Shah said it was challenging at times.

"One thing that was hard was that there was a humongous line and people kept coming," she said, adding she sometimes got confused about the price of her baked goods amid the hectic sale.

But, overall, she feels it's important to give back.

"Rather than keeping stuff for yourself, doing things for other people feels nice," she said.

Muchenje agreed.

She said the class project has taught her a lot about the world.

"It teaches you that there are people that are struggling in the world and people that don't have what we have," she said.

The girls miss having their friend around but said she was excited and thankful to hear about their idea to donate funds to the Ronald McDonald House.

"She's really joyful even when times get hard," said Muchenje. "Her laugh can make you laugh. She's super kind."

In a letter the pair wrote to the Ronald McDonald House to explain their donation, they described their friend as a special and loving - someone who deserves a great place to stay.

"She's an amazing person," they said.

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