Students Helping Students
In December 2004, a natural disaster swept across much of the Indian Ocean, destroying schools, dismantling villages, and devastating the lives of citizens of Sri Lanka and other developing counties. In response, students, faculty and parents from over 200 schools amazed us with their fundraising efforts and creativity. Through read-a-thons, wristband campaigns, auctions, and numerous other activities, students raised over US$400,000 to assist in the rebuilding effort in Sri Lanka. The creativity with which schools raised money has amazed and inspired everyone in the Room to Read organization and beyond!
We were so inspired by the energy and creativity that students are capable of, we established a more interactive campaign focused on promoting the values of cultural awareness, social entrepreneurship, and global philanthropy.
Through our Students Helping Students program, students learn about the geography, language, and culture of the countries in which we work. They can also read about the day-to-day lives of the children they are helping and the work that Room to Read performs to foster education. Furthermore, students develop leadership skills, creativity, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the courage to get involved and make a difference through fundraising campaigns that help generate funds for Room to Read programs abroad.
Our Students Helping Students website contains a wealth of materials, including:
- Lesson plans on cultural awareness and social entrepreneurship;
- Background information on our current focus country - Nepal;
- Fundraising ideas and case studies;
- Results of Students Helping Students projects;
- Information for parents;
- Details on how we are celebrating International Literacy Day and how you can join us;
- Students Helping Students in the news;
- and more!
Through this program, students have a very real, very measurable impact on education in the developing world. Visit www.roomtoread.org/shs for more information and join us in giving the lifelong gift of education to millions of children in the developing world.
