The World Cares Project's students graduated from their class, who will take their spots?

Thanks to http://my.directchange.org/page/theworldcaresproject , the website is still fund raising. The World Cares Project on the other hand is waiting for a new connection of students willing to work together to make a difference. Please contact us if you're up to the challenge at wlloyd07@cityyear.org .

Newton

Congratulations on raising the 1,140 dollars! We decided to donate the money to the Duk County Lost Boys Clinic. There are lots of organizations working in Darfur and Sudan like UNICEF and the UN and US government, but they already get funding from taxes and governments. Plus, giving them money means that it's paying to help Sudan, but its not necessarily going straight to the people of Sudan. So, we decided after this website, which was a type of service called "advocacy", and raising money to help them without seeing them which was a type of service called "indirect", we wanted the money to go straight to the people which is called "direct" service. That way we've covered all three types of service!

The Duk County Lost Boys Clinic is an organization created by a Lost Boy, John Dau, who came to the US to get an education. He then decided the best way to come back and use his education to help his community in Sudan was to create a clinic (a free hospital) because the closest one was 75 miles away and they had to walk. This way we're giving money to an organization that's run by a Lost Boy for his people of Sudan.

The Duk County Lost Boys Clinic

Bringing Health Care and Hope to Sudan

Despite having suffered through years of oppression and attacks by the Khartoum regime that tried to impose an extremist form of Islamic Sharia law, the people of my village share my optimism about our future.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters around the world, we have completed our fundraising for building the clinic in Duk Payuel Sudan. Now we need to hire medical staff and send supplies; will you please help us raise the money to make this possible?

We look at this empty structure and see a clinic where our children are being vaccinated, mothers are safely giving birth, and no one has to travel by foot for 75 miles for basic medical care.

The positive outlook of the Duk Payuel people is so contagious that in the last few weeks, the United Nations started resettling refugees in our village. In fact, just last week, USAID came to the village and proposed to set up a feeding center next to the clinic.

Some have commented that the picture looks like an empty building. In many ways they are correct. Without medical staff, medicine and funds, this building would just be an unfulfilled dream.

To fully staff and provide the operating costs for the first year, we need to raise $417,000.

Thanks to the continuous generosity and support of people like you, we have already raised almost $75,000. This money has helped us hire Dr. Miriam, a doctor from Kenya who will arrive at the clinic next month. Assuming supporters like you and others continue to provide the necessary funds, Dr. Miriam will be joined by a nurse (Viera), a lab technician (Peter) and a midwife (Caroline).

Believe The World Cares

This has been a fabulous year of working together towards a common goal. Where is the love? I think we all know!

Black Eyed Peas Where is the Love?

"We only got one world. That's all we got."

Do The Unexpected

Beatbox on the Paris Metro

Grand Total

A donor promised to match our funds up to $500. Because we raised over $600, we get the whole amount! Our grand total we will be passing on is

$1,140.00

We have learned so much about Sudan and the Darfur conflict because of you guys. We are happy to pay it forward to you. Good luck with researching who you will be paying it forward to! Keep us posted...

Car Wash Wallapalloza

It threatened rain again, but the skies stayed clear. After Mass let out, we had a steady stream of dirty cars lined up to be cleaned. Thank you to all the parishioners from St. Bernard's Church for supporting our car wash. They gave us most of our business that day! Our total intake after the wet day (and not because it was raining!) was $204. Seventh graders, you worked hard.

A short photo-essay on life in a camp in Sudan.

http://www.theirc.org/resources/essays/darfurs-camp-life.html

For the best explanation (and since the situation in Darfur is so complex it uses big words), visit http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4769&l=1 .

Stay tuned as classmates in Room 25 in Philly begin research on organizations working in southern Sudan. We'll be presenting this Thursday then make a decision on where to send the money! Great Job Newton!

Read More Blogs...

Here is a post from John from his blog, Direct Change. It talks about other students helping out Sudan.

Jon Dau states in his blog,

"I could see in the eyes of the students that they wanted to help Southern Sudan. Where did they get this value of helping others, including foreigners? Does this value of helping the needy come from their parents, teachers, school administrators, neighbors or government? I think it probably comes from all of the above. This desire to help others is a trait that is very special about the United States of America."

Read the rest of his post here:

American Students Helping Sudan

Generosity Surrounds Us

After the yard sale, we needed to go around the neighborhood and remove signs. While we were busy with this, we left out a sign saying "Serve yourself yard sale. Bargin with yourself. Place money in the can." When we got back, it did not look like any items were gone. Still, the can had six dollars in it!

A neighbor was driving by the day after our yard sale. He wondered if he could buy a particular book he was looking at but did not buy at the time. I told him that we carted them off to the town recycling center after we closed down the sale. He then asked, "The yard sale was for charity, wasn't it?" At that point, he passed over a $20 dollar bill.

Car Wash

Our final fundraiser is tomorrow. We are looking for sun and a lot of dirty cars. Yes, it is the much awaited car wash! Bring your buckets, we have the hose and sponges. See you there!

Yard Sale Fun(ds)

With a little positive thinking, we avoided the rain today and were able to sell everything from books, clothes, toys, housewares and knick knacks. No one needed the microwave, imagine that! We still made $160.50 for our cause.

CAN

People CAN accomplish things they never thought possible. Watch this video and be inspired by the power of the human spirit to achieve!

The Strongest Dad in the World
He's pushed his disabled son's wheelchair through 85 marathons. He's also towed Rick in a dinghy, swimming the 2.4 miles before pedaling with his son in a seat on the handlebars as they completed stages of triathlons. It's all part of this extraordinary father-son effort to transcend disability. When technology allowed Rick to type, he said, "Dad, when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore." That sentence changed Dick Hoyt's life. He and his son qualified for the Boston marathon in 1992, finishing 35 minutes shy of the world record. Then somebody suggested a triathlon. So far, they've done 212, not to mention four Ironman contests. Someone suggested Dick try racing on his own. "No way," he says....

Realize what CAN be done as we finish up with our fund raising.

Start Now...

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. --Anne Frank

Good News Network!

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org

Hi Everyone ~

Every now and again, when I'm watching the news go feel like saying "uhhg! is there anything good going on in the world?", then one of my girlfriends emailed me this ... it is from the Good News Network and it really cool ... it's inspiring news that happens ... all collected in a weekly newsletter! Subscribe today if you want to hear about the positive things going on in the world.

Top 10 Good News Stories of the Week
Algae-to-Biodiesel Fuel Tackles Two Problems (Video)Algae has been the least-publicized source for biodiesel fuel, yet it may hold the greatest potential for simultaneously tackling the two problems of our dependence on fossil fuels and global climate change. Green Star Products, Inc. announced this week that it will begin constructing two demonstration "algae-to-biodiesel" production facilities...
At 88, She’s a Millionaire — and Keeps TeachingRose "Mama G" Gilbert, a feisty and talented California English teacher says she has no plans to retire, even though she has millions.
Fate Returns the Favor: One Good Rescue Deserves AnotherA man once rescued from drowning as a 3-year-old gets to return the favor 37 years later, diving into ice-encrusted waters on Long Island. Remarkably eerie coincidences between the boyhood and adult rescues have imprinted the family with a promise to always have a Labrador retriever nearby...
US Group Will Push to Update Light Bulbs, Saving Money and PlanetA coalition of industrialists, environmentalists and energy specialists is announcing next week a campaign to eliminate America's use of incandescent light bulbs within 10 years. It will press for government-enforced efficiency standards to make the old-bulb technology obsolete.

Bake Sale Success

Thanks to everyone for making the goodies. We made a whooping $111.55!

Emily designed some World Cares Project business cards which we passed out at the bake sale.

God Grew Tired Of Us

Check out the God Grew Tired Of Us website to learn more about the documentary and connected charities.

This story really makes sense after the Philly kids filled us in on the climate of Sudan, why land in southern Sudan is favored (suitable for farming) and the civil war going on.

The Lost Boys of Sudan

There is a documentary out on the lost boys of Sudan. It tells the following story of survival:

Orphaned by a tumultuous civil war and traveling barefoot across the sub-Saharan desert, John Bul Dau, Daniel Abol Pach and Panther Blor were among the 25,000 “Lost Boys” (ages 3 to 13) who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers. Named by a journalist after Peter Pan’s posse of orphans who protected and provided for each other, the “Lost Boys” traveled together for five years and against all odds crossed into the UN’s refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. A journey’s end for some, it was only the beginning for John, Daniel and Panther, who along with 3800 other young survivors, were selected to re-settle in the United States.

Nickelback - If Everyone Cared (Music to Inspire!)

Sit back and watch...now act!

Counting Change

We sorted the change and rolled the coins.
Fifty one more dollars collected!

Janjaweed means "Devils on Horseback"

In 2002 the black African fought against the Arab government. Then the Janjaweed teamed up with the Arab government and fought the black Africans.
Now two months in Darfur is hard for civilians because 2million are homeless and tens of thousand people died.

Sudan is the worst place to have a refugee crisis because west Sudan are only rocks and sand.
The rainy season is over and the camels and goats ate all the green land.
Most farmers are poor and the lands are extremely poor and dry.
Millions of people are made homeless in western Sudan. This is because the Sudan government and the Arab Militia are destroying lots of villages.

Janjaweed has been raping Many people in Darfur Lately and Darfur don’t Know what to do to Stop it. In the past 4 Years over 200,000 Darfur died. Now The UN last year passed a resolution that said that they wouldn’t buy nothing from Sudan or give nothing to Sudan government. The Sudanese government is accused Of war crimes by the United Nations, but had stopped short of calling the conflict genocide.

By: manuel, christian, ruben

Whoops!

Scratch the bake sale...we will hold it on March 25th instead.

Just a reminder to bring in cans and bottles to recycle. We are collecting them before class this Sunday.

(Thanks to Scott Ableman for his photo from Flickr)

Bake Sale Cooks

March 11 we will hold a bake sale to raise money. Here is what people offered to bring:

Hanah- cupcakes
Emily- star cake
Jane- banana bread
Robby- chocolate chip muffins
Eva- coconut and chocolate surprise
Molly- chocolate chip cookies
Stephanie- brownie
Zack - chocolate chip cookies
Fahy double chocoalte chiop brownies

If anyone was not at class this week and wants to contribute, give Mrs. Lloyd a call and I will add you to the list!










(Thanks to Jess Sawrey for her image posted on Flickr.)

Motivation

We have not been meeting for several weeks due to school vacation. Now it is time to refocus. This is hard to do sometimes. Do you need motivation? Check out this video to see a great example of perseverance, hard work and achieving a goal.



Our next fundraiser is a bake sale on March 11. Start thinking of baking ideas!

Sudans climate

The climate in Darfur is mostly desert. They hardly got water. They can only grow so many plants.
There are two types of people living in Darfur. The farmers live in the south part of Darfur where all the forest is. The nomads live in the desert in northern Darfur.
The Janjaweed will rather live in the southern than the northern. The Janjaweed are thkke nomads. They are moving down to the south because of the land (food). The people down south don’t want to move so the Janjaweed decided to kill them.

By Daveeda, Cassandra, Deyanira

Contribute to our Cause!

Darfur: The First Glimpse

Dear Newton,

Did you know Darfur is in Africa? Darfur is a state in a country Sudan. Sudan is the largest country in Africa with a population of 39 million people. Darfur, in western Sudan, is the size of Texas and there are 6 million people living there.

We started this project because we were looking at the Web and we said that all the people should not be killed by their own people from the same country because they are not the same religion. This type of killing is called genocide.

There are 400,000 people dying in Darfur, and there are 2,500,000 people leaving there homes because there are people from there country killing there own people and because it is not safe down there.

By: Cierra, Joanne, Wyneva

Newton Reporter of the Week

This week our class is working on donating our spare change. We will put it in little plastic zip-lock bags. We will bring our zip-lock bags to class, filled with change. We will then put the change into a change-sorter, and find out how much we gathered to donate.



We decided to make it more fun by making it a contest. The person who brings in the most spare change, wins. They will get to pick the snack for the class, also getting mentioned on the blog. Our zip-lock bags are personally decorated by our own classmates.

Every person in our class has a job in this project. Our individual fund raising specialists are Victor and Regina. Our group fund raising team is Zach, Alex, and Anthony. Within our communications department we have Alex and Rebecca.

Our next group fund raising project is a bake sale, which is being run by Alex, Anthony, Zach, Rebecca, and Fay. Our master chefs who are contributing to our bake sale are Mia, Robby, Fay, Jane, Zach, and Anthony. That should be a huge success. It will be held on March 11th, after Mass.

Some new news is that we will now have a News Reporter of the Week. This article was written by Robby.

All About Philadelphia

Hi, we are the sixth grade students from Sheridan West Academy located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And what part? North Philly! We are known for lots of stuff like: our Philly Cheesesteaks. They are so delicious! Also, the Liberty Bell, our pride and joy. We have the Benjamin Franklin Institue, Natural Science Museum, and the Constitution Center. We also have the house of Betsy Ross, the woman that created our American flag. We know that you all make Boston Baked Beans (They're good!), and our next post will be about what's happening in Sudan, Africa.

Organizing...

Every one in our class got assigned to a group to help raise money. We have individual fundraising and group fundraising. We communicate through technology like I am right now.

A Good Day's Work

Today we made a grand total of $75.50 selling hot cocoa after church. We had lots of helping hands, six kids in all. People really enjoyed Hannah's dad's home made hot cocoa on a chilly day. Hot cocoa cost .50 a cup but people were really generous and donated more.

Cocoa for a Cause

Today we are selling cups of hot cocoa after Mass. Our first "Cocoa for a Cause" brought in enough money for us to buy a globe to send down to the kids in Philly. Now we start the fundraising for our joint charitable effort. We'll let you know how we did!

The Value of Connecting!

Amazing connections are possible today in the world we live in. Watch this 8 minute video on the power of giving, 4 GENERATIONS: The Water Buffalo Movie.

Reaching Hands Across the Globe

Our mission is to show the world we care. The kids in Newton are the fundraisers. They are developing plans to raise money individually and as a group. The kids in Philly are the researchers and allocators of the funds. As they study about different regions of the world, they will choose a charitable organization to contribute to. We have a big job ahead of us as we work together to "pay it forward.

First Steps

Money was raised by selling hot cocoa one Sunday after Mass at St. Bernard. Despite the warmer temperatures we have been having, it was cold enough to generate business. What a great start to our fundraising. We had enough to buy a globe to send down to our friends in Philly!

Paying it Forward

If someone smiles at you, pass it on to a totally different person. When a friend helps you out in a sticky situation, find someone else you can help out. Do you see how good deeds gets passed around?

Who knows how far that smile might travel?

We are two groups of kids, looking for ways to "pass it forward". One group is a religion education class of seventh graders in Newton, MA. Another group is a sixth grade class of middle schoolers in Philadelphia, PA. What do we have in common?

Stay tuned!

Where in the World is Newton?

Newton is in the state of Massachusetts. It is next to the capital city of Boston. Even though Newton is a city, it is more of a suburban area. It is large. We split up the parts of the city for our high schools: Newton North Tigers and the Newton South Lions. There are 14 villages that split up the city also. Most of us live in West Newton or Newtonville.