By Angela Marshall
Taking a lesson to heart
Hewitt students raise funds for children of Africa
It took little more than a lesson about Africa for 16 Hewitt Elementary School students to begin getting an education in charity. Having learned that many African children die young, the Hewitt third-graders decided to do something to help them live longer.
Led by Principal Joanne Spencer, eight children worked to start a program to collect money and the rest worked to create a newspaper to let other students know what they are doing. From Jan. 22 to March 9, the students are collecting money to buy mosquito nets to protect the African children while they sleep. Malaria, a potentially fatal illness that is spread by mosquitoes and is a scourge in Africa, was particularly frightening to the Hewitt children when they were learning about diseases.
Borrowing the name of the group that inspired them, the Hewitt students call themselves the Flying Doctors. The real Flying Doctor Service was founded 43 years ago by three surgeons who responded to emergencies in Africa. The group is still active today providing services to areas of Africa with few or no medical facilities.
"I got a little surprised," Matthew Hasday said of his involvement in the group. "One day I'm outside at recess and the next day I'm inside doing stuff for Africa."
The children brainstormed to figure out just what they would do to get others as excited about the project as they were. They tried to recall everything they had seen adults do when they held fund-raisers and then took turns calling around trying to get the things they would need.
They made posters, had donation boxes created and continued to think of more ideas last Friday just days before the project's kick-off date.
"I think we should put posters at the bank," Joseph Lawless said.
While Joseph checks into the bank angle, Gavin Ahern is hoping to speak to the mayor of Rockville Centre, Eugene Murray. Gavin had asked to put a poster up at the post office but was told it would be illegal. He hopes the mayor will allow him to put up signs in other areas around the village.
Nikita Holzer went on the school loudspeaker last week to tell her classmates about the project.
During lunch on Friday, the first copies of the student newspaper were also delivered. For David Kane, Nicole Cacace and Victoria Leistman, it was the first opportunity for them to see their writing in print. Each wrote a story explaining the Flying Doctor project. David White created artwork for the paper.
A second issue of the newspaper is already being created. However, before these students could start writing, they had to learn the rules of what makes a good news story. The students narrowed their information to just the most important and interesting facts -- the who, what, where, when and how.
In addition, some of the students have acted as stand-in teachers on the subject of Africa, based on the knowledge they gained from their project. And if all goes well with this project, these students will help others plan the next school project.
