Brent Braatens front page photograph on Saturday December 13, 2014 with students Jaidyn Bjornson, Kabir Nijjar and Ty Bax titled Ten Days... stirs much emotions with me and took me back over 40 years, about how little unselfish initiatives can grow into big things to help the needy.
I believe Heritage Elementary students, staff and parents with Jaidyn, Kabir and Ty, as well as others, are doing something that shows what Canadians are known for internationally: a generous and compassionate people.
In 1973, a small group of people from five organizations travelled across Canada to inform Canadians about the needy in Canada and developing countries.
They called themselves Ten Days for Social Justice', because it took ten days for the program to complete and was later renamed Ten days for World Development.
This organization is now called Kairos and has grown to eleven national organizations partnering with the needy in Canada and dozens of developing countries.
Over 45 years ago I was invited to Canada as a student, arriving from South America where I was born in the past dwellings of free African slaves.
We attended a Canadian Presbyterian Mission School that taught us the Canadian values of giving. Little did we know at time when we sat against the school fence in the tropical sun and before eating our lunch, we shared a piece of fish, cassava or boiled egg, that we were learning the values of sharing and giving, that is so common in Canada.
I was fortunate to have associated with Kairos and other Canadian international non-governmental organizations [NGOs] that assist the needy in Canada and developing countries.
We started as the Heritage Elementary students did, no big fanfare and a lot of challenges, with many frustrations to go forward, as we struggle to find the right path. Decades later, youth like those from Heritage Elementary, came on board with similar passion to help the needy. We grew as partners in Canada and developing countries came on board to do big things for the needy.
We funded sustainable farming, health and education projects, while assisting women groups in Asia, Africa and Central/South America, as many other Canadian groups are doing. The people know Canada and are proud to be associated with Canadians.
What the Heritage Elementary students have done, might seem small by national standards, but we don't remain as youth for long and many of us take similar passion into adulthood and do bigger things for the needy, sometimes in developing countries.
I commend the students, staff and parents at Heritage Elementary and others for helping the needy through St. Vincent de Paul in Prince George. This should also be done at other times of the year, because the needy are always with us.
Merry Christmas.
Vince Ramcharran
Prince George
