Students raise money for school in Uganda

GCSU students have joined the Invisible Children Schools for Schools fundraising competition.

Senior psychology major Meagan Shorey leads the GCSU group as it joins hundreds of high schools and colleges across the United States to raise money for various schools in the African nation of Uganda.

“We have raised roughly $700 for Awere Secondary School in Uganda through various fundraisers such as Give S’More, Get S’more, bake sales and Change for Change,” Shorey said. “Different regions are paired together to raise money for one school. We are part of the Deep South region.”

Give S’More, Get S’more was Schools for Schools’ first big fundraising event. GCSU students were invited to the Grove Fire Pit to roast s’mores after donating $2. The event raised almost $400.

“The money raised goes directly to the Invisible Children Headquarters, and it puts it toward the building of Awere Secondary School,” Shorey said. “It’s cool because we get to see where the money goes. There are pictures on the Invisible Children Web site that show what they are building.”

On Nov. 20, students ran a 5K race that the GCSU cross country team helped support in order to raise more money. The athletic department donated T-shirts, so the $5 entry fee could completely go to Schools for Schools.

“I thought a 5K would be a good way for my teammates and I to help Schools for Schools,” junior cross country runner Dani Destiche said. “It’s hard for me to live day-to-day life knowing I’m not doing anything when these kids live in such poor conditions.”

Though Schools for Schools is not a Registered Student Organization on campus, most students found out about the fundraising group through the Invisible Children screening at the University Banquet Room in September.

“I was really touched by the documentary,” senior psychology major Ali Northrup said. “I’ve been looking for something to devote my time to, and seeing those kids in the film and the people willing to go to Africa to help them – well if I can carry around a painted milk jug and collect spare change, I can do that.”

Change for Change is another opportunity that Schools for Schools extends to GCSU to raise money for its newly adopted sister school in Uganda. Schools for Schools members carry red milk jugs around and ask people to donate their spare pocket change to help build a school for Ugandan children.

“It’s amazing how much a pocket full of change equals when it accumulates,” Northrup said.

The official Schools for Schools fundraising competition will end Dec. 15, and the school that’s raised the most money will send one group member to Uganda. The group with the most creative fundraising idea will also send one group member to their sister school in Uganda.

“Most of what we are doing is raising money,” Northrup said.

Schools for Schools at GCSU also keeps students connected with different Invisible Children events.

Invisible Children had a Facebook video competition and GCSU freshman Kelly Hoffman won. The video encouraged people to visit wewantobama.com, and because her video had the most “likes,” she won the competition.

Those interested in being a part of Schools for Schools and seeing a direct change in Uganda, can contact Meagan Shorey on Facebook, or look for the red milk jugs around campus.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 20 2009. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry