RRHS students to build school in Sierra Leone

Ken Johnston
Editor

A group of Rainy River High School students has decided to set their sights on building another school.
The project will cost a lot less than one would think. Millions of dollars right? No actually the school will only cost about $12,000 but will be half a world away.
The Brick by Brick Committee, chaired by Deidre Wilson, a grade 9 student at RRHS, has decided to raise funds to build a school in Sierra Leone. The West African country has been ravaged by civil war for 11 years and has one of the highest child soldier rates in the world. Armistead said, “70% of kids there are not attending schools.”
Teacher Laura Armistead brought up the idea of helping others in need and Wilson and about 11 other students jumped on board. “It was not hard to get people involved. In fact we have great response to our wake-a-thon.” said Wilson. They have had 65 people, about half the student body, sign up for it.
Participants need to get at least $50 pledged towards the event and they will then try and stay awake for 24 hours later this month.
They looked at projects in China, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Sierra Leone before deciding on the latter one.
The Brick by Brick Committee plans to extend invitations to other area schools including Fort Frances High School, Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program (Stratton) and Lake of the Woods High School (Baudette) to work on the project.
Armistead said that they hope to raise the $12,000 in the next couple of years and then it is possible that a school trip to Sierra Leone will be planned and the students may get to go and see the school they helped build.
The school will be given an African name but will also bear the name of Rainy River School on it as well.
The Free the Children Foundation is the charity group the RRHS students are going to be working through. On its website it says, “Free The Children school building projects are focused on providing the schools, teachers, and resources disadvantaged children need to get a basic primary education. Today, more than 40,000 children attend more than 450 Free The Children schools every day.”
Other fund raising activities have been planned including sending Christmasgrams and a Best Seat in the House (for a home game) contest.
The committee hopes to enlist the help of local service clubs and churches. It is hoping that anyone in the area wanting to get involved one way or another will contact Deidre Wilson at Rainy River High School 807-852-3284.