What The Heck Blog

Flick Off says Green Glade Students

To help create awareness of global warming at their school, students from Green Glade Sr. Public School in Port Credit are spreading the message of Flick Off.
Grade 8 students Emma Street, 13, Jenna Shore and Sarah Barbash, both 14, are the co-chairs of a committee they have created to help raise awareness and funds for the Flick Off Organization, an environmental non-government organization that promotes the reduction of energy consumption across Canada.
Made up of 14 members, the committee held a fundraiser barbecue yesterday to raise money to send solar panels to Africa in an effort to help alleviate the effects of global warming on families there.
Earlier in the year the committee sold bracelets and collected donations for the campaign at their school, but decided they needed to spread the message to their community.
In December of last year, Street received a letter from World Vision Canada that spoke about the number of children dying around the world, especially in Africa, as a result of global warming.
She then attended a conference on global warming and said she became inspired.
“My dad gave me this Flick Off flyer and I talked it over with my friends and decided to bring the campaign to our school,” said Street. “We also chose the Flick Off organization because we noticed around our school that many lights and computers would be left on in the classrooms when no one was inside and we said that’s not right.”
Shore said her and her friends knew they could do something to change the situation at their school.
After getting the idea passed by their principal, parent and student councils and the superintendent, the Flick Off Committee held an assembly at their school to create awareness of the organization and its campaign on global warming.
The barbecue fundraiser had over 30 volunteers helping out, made up of students, parents and teachers.
Charles Sousa, MPP for Mississauga-South also attended the event in support.
Food for the day was donated by Maple Lodge Farms, while McDonald’s and Battaglia’s Lorne Park Marketplace donated drinks and condiments, respectively.
In addition to the barbecue, the day was filled with face-painting, games, activities, raffles and a bake sale.
Expecting close to 200 people to attend, organizers said they hoped to raise $300.
“Each solar panel costs $150, so we hope to send at least one,” said Shore. “And World Vision takes care of sending the panels to Africa.”
All it takes are little baby steps along the way to create some change, adds Street.

This post was written by: Franklin Manuel

Franklin Manuel is a professional blogger, web designer and front end web developer. Follow him on Twitter