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MacNeill students take initiative through art
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The Buzz Art Club is giving back.
Guided by teacher Kate Walker, the MacNeill secondary students raise money through their works of art.
Their recent Art-A-Thon, the 14th annual, generated funds for the Environmental Youth Alliance. The alliance offers programs for at-risk youth that encourage environmental awareness.
Walker sees this as a particularly worthy cause.
“I feel really good this year because the kids are really connected to the topic,” says Walker. “It’s really important that the kids take initiative and give to the community, and that they take part in an initiative that is bigger than them. I encourage the students to look beyond the walls of the school.”
Each student seeks sponsors for their work, with funds going to a chosen charity.
“Every year I try to give them lots of choice for a topic and where to donate,” says Walker of the student-led project.
As they choose where their funds will go, students learn about global issues.
Past funds have gone to Syrian refugees and disaster relief in the Philippines, to name a few examples. One year, they chose the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, which works towards cultural understanding and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
This year’s Art-A-Thon resulted in 26 paintings by 34 students and netted more than $3,200. The paintings adorn the school’s halls.