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McNicholas Students Create
"Books of Hope"
for the children of Northern Uganda
At the start of Catholic Schools Week in late January, the entire
study body viewed the film Invisible Children. Much has been written
about this film including the following: "In the spring of 2003,
three young Americans traveled to Africa in search of such as story.
What they found was a tragedy that disgusted and inspired them. A
story where children are weapons and children are the victims. The
"Invisible Children: rough cut" film exposes the effects of a 20
year-long war on the children of Northern Uganda. These children
live in fear of abduction by rebel soldiers and are being forced to
fight as a part of violent army. This wonderfully reckless
documentary is fast paced, with an MTV beat, and is something truly
unique. To see Africa through young eyes is humorous and heart
breaking, quick and informative - all in the very same breath. See
this film, you will be forever changed."
McNicholas students were changed, and they wanted to help. Under the
guidance of the English and religion departments, students created
Books of Hope for the children of Northern Uganda. Mrs. Valerie
Combs spearheaded the project after discovering The Memory Project,
an organization that sends artwork and books to children living in
very difficult situations abroad. These books are intended to bring
a sense of comfort, joy, and peace to the children. Students
brainstormed for book ideas, wrote and illustrated their work, and
then proudly bound their books. All of the books of hope will be
blessed during an all school mass on Wednesday April 18. Students
also raised all of the necessary money required to ship the books
later this month. Check out the photos to see the generous spirit of
our students who are truly living out this year's theme "Bonded
Together to Serve and Achieve."
To see the Enquirer article about
"Books of Hope," click here.
Students make Books of Hope
McNicholas High works to help kids in Uganda
BY CINDY KRANZ |
ENQUIRER | Monday, April 9, 2007
MOUNT WASHINGTON - After watching a film showing the plight of
children in northern Uganda, McNicholas High School students wanted
to do something - anything. Their teachers knew the film, "Invisible
Children," would elicit powerful emotions and a desire to help. They
were ready.
Students were asked to begin work on a schoolwide project to create
children's books for Books of Hope, a program of The Memory Project,
a Wisconsin-based organization that sends student-created portraits
and books to children living in difficult conditions abroad.
It doesn't get much more difficult than northern Uganda, where a
brutal 20-year-old civil war rages. Thousands of children have been
killed, tortured, kidnapped and enslaved. Children travel from rural
areas during the night to larger cities, where they seek refuge from
abduction. They travel back home in the day, sometimes as far as
five miles, to go to school. They repeat the commute every night.
The Memory Project gives parameters for the book topics. They must
be thoughtful, educational, entertaining, comforting or hopeful.
"Obviously, they don't want students to write about issues that
would be sensitive or violent or difficult for a student to read,"
said Valerie Combs, an English teacher who helped spearhead the
project with religion teacher Donna Bambach. "The whole purpose is
to create some peace and comfort for these children at night before
they go off to sleep."
The books are as varied as their authors. Some told sweet, simple
tales of a childhood memory. One book contained intricately folded
paper cranes.
Kelsi Corcoran, 15, a sophomore, co-wrote a book about a monkey
desperately seeking bananas because his supply had run out. Of
course, it had a happy ending.
"I think that it was a good idea because the kids don't have very
much," Kelsi said of the project. "They're probably really scared
because of the violence going on in Uganda. I think if they read
some of the books it will help them to become more hopeful and
cheerful."
Kara Apel, 17, a senior, wrote a story about her dog. "I drew
pictures of my dog doing lots of different stuff. He was a hard
model to work with. I liked just being able to make a positive
impact on someone," she said of the project.
McNicholas students could work alone or with other students to
create a book. They did their own writing, illustrations and book
binding.
They had some class periods to work on the book, but many labored on
them in their spare time. Students had one after-school session
where they could do book binding and decorating and learn more about
the intricacies of bookmaking.
Bambach, who traveled last summer to Southern Uganda where there is
no violence now, shared her experiences with the students as they
made their books. Her group visited an orphanage that takes in
orphans from the Northern Uganda war zone.
"The head mistress was telling us that, at night time, they'll just
sit in their bed. They are so afraid to sleep," Bambach said.
"Chances are, their parents have been killed, and they witnessed it.
They may have been taken, or they may have gotten away somehow."
While "Invisible Children" is sometimes difficult to watch because
of the brutality and terrible conditions, it room for hope, Combs
said.
"What I liked about this project is that the kids walked away with a
sense of hopefulness as opposed to a sense of despair," Combs said.
"That's the kind of thing that they talked about. 'Oh, these kids
will love these books.' It may have been a simple response, but at
the same time, they weren't walking away so devastated by the
situation that they couldn't act."
McNicholas students aren't just content to stop there, though.
Six seniors have organized a student group called "Change" to focus
on human rights issues. The group is organizing a concert, "Jam for
Justice," May 11 at the school. Tickets are $5. All money raised
will be split between Dollars for Darfur and Catholic Relief
Services.
This year, Change is focusing on the conditions in Darfur and
Northern Uganda.
"It seems to be something people are going to look back on and say,
'That's terrible. Why didn't we stop that?' " said Jennifer Spriggs,
18.
"It's kind of like how the Holocaust went on. We do know about it.
There are ways we can pay attention to it and stop it and not just
let it fade into a sad memory," she said.
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