Grade 2 students at Assiniboia Park Elementary enjoy finding creative ways to donate to Gifts of Hope through Plan Canada. A Giving Project started for Stephanie Knibbs’ classroom in 2012, when a student made clay dishes for each student, and the students decided to purchase the gifts and pay it forward.
Students called the project the Ryan Project that year, after the name of the student who made the clay dishes. The project was such a success, that it has continued each year in the Grade 2 classroom, and is now called the Giving Project
This year, students made ornaments, which were purchased by other students. Cohen Baumgartner and Olivia Tatarliov both enjoyed creating ornaments for the Giving Project.
“We used three fingers, dipped them in white paint and put them on the ornament, so it would look like snowmen,” said Olivia.
“We used our thumb for the bottom, the pointer for the middle and the pinkie on the top,” explained Cohen.
“I liked that we were helping other people, by buying these ornaments, and giving back to others,” said Olivia. “We are helping their community by purchasing an animal that helps provide food for them.”
“These people don’t have as much stuff as we do, so it is nice to give,” said Cohen.
Gifts of Hope cannot be wrapped like regular gifts that someone can buy at the store, but they do unwrap huge possibilities for those who receive them. Items can include goats, school supplies, clean water access and essential health equipment, to entrepreneurial ventures for women and girls, and vitally needed supplies in times of emergency.
With Plan International Canada, as part of one of the world’s oldest and largest international development organizations, donations to Gifts of Hope goes directly to the gift that is selected – helping children, families and communities in need.
In 2019, the Grade 2 students collected enough money to purchase two hens and a roster, a goal, a bed net (malaria prevention), an fruit tree, chicks and a sheep.
This year, the Grade 2 students raised $250 for the Gifts of Hope.
