School in Powell River raises funds for water challenges

Henderson Elementary School’s grade one and two class held an art sale to raise money and awareness for an organization that helps indigenous communities address critical water challenges.

On March 16, on Willow Avenue in front of the school, teacher Megan Fraser’s grade one and two class set up tables in the sunshine and displayed and sold art that they had been working on for a couple of months.

“The students were so excited and the response from families was overwhelming,” said Fraser. “We sold right out and raised $1,303.45 to donate to Water First.”

The art that the students created included clay, mixed media and paintings.

Fraser said at the end of the day, one of her students said, "Ms. Fraser, I can't believe this all started when we were inspired by a book. Aren't books amazing? I really love them!"

“My teacher heart is full,” said Fraser.

She said the project’s evolution was very much the students’ idea. The class was learning about water, and students learned about how water is essential for all living things.

“At one point we read books about people who don’t have access to fresh water and safe drinking water,” said Fraser. “This particular group of students is really compassionate and very caring about others. They were literally jumping out of their seats to do something to help people.

“They brainstormed lots of ideas. They thought about a bake sale because they thought it would be fun but with COVID-19, that probably wouldn’t work. We thought about an art sale and that it was something that might work.”

Fraser said it took a while to get approval to do it in a safe way, but they got there. For two months, students worked on creating art for the sale.

The class researched organizations that help support indigenous communities in Canada to access safe water sources, so that’s where the class decided to donate the proceeds of the art sale. There is an organization called Water First, which is a leading organization supporting indigenous communities in Canada, said Fraser. This is where the students chose to donate the proceeds from the art sale.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” said Fraser. “My goal for the students was that they could feel like they could make a difference, it wasn’t about how much money we could make. It was more about them feeling like they could have an idea to help somebody and make a difference, and to increase awareness.

“There’s a lot of people in Canada who are living without cleaning drinking water and bathing water.”

Prime minister gets invite

Fraser said the class learned a little bit about what governments were doing to support the communities in need. She said coincidentally, March 2021 was the time when prime minister Justin Trudeau said water projects for communities in Canada would be completed. The Henderson students urged the prime minister to keep his promise and they invited him to the art sale.

“It obviously hasn’t been completed, so the students worked together to write a letter to the prime minister and they are awaiting a response from him,” said Fraser. “It would be exciting for the children if he responded.”

Principal Jasmin Marshman said Fraser was very knowledgeable and there was class discussion that Trudeau had made a pledge that all communities would have clean drinking water by this year and it hasn’t quite happened yet.

“That was the whole purpose for the art sale,” said Marshman. “They are selling the art that they have made to send proceeds to Water First, which is an organization supporting first nations communities that are struggling with water.”

Art was purchased by parents and school staff also had the chance to purchase it.

“The art is amazing,” said Marshman. “I would hang it on my wall. It’s beautiful.”

For more information on Water First, go to waterfirst.ngo.