RPCV Alisa Meggitt helps raise $3,000 for relief effort in Senegal
Students aid African town
Shimek raises more than $3,000 for stricken village
By Mike McWilliams
Iowa City Press-Citizen
If Shimek Elementary fifth-graders Lukas and Erik Ovrum learned nothing else during a school-wide fund-raiser for a blighted West African village, they now realize how fortunate they are.
Shimek Elementary School fifth-grader Max Caballero, 10, sorts through some of the goods collected by the school’s students Thursday during recess. The students raised $3,149 and families donated more than 15 boxes of supplies to aid the drought-stricken town of Ndiouffene, Senegal. Press-Citizen/Matthew Holst
"We hope it will inspire more people to fund-raise," said Lukas, 10.
"Because if we were in that position, it would be hard for us," Erik said, finishing his twin brother's sentence. "We're really lucky to have all this stuff."
Since late January, Lukas, Erik and other students at Shimek hit the streets and braved the winter weather to sell items and solicit money for Ndiouffene - a rural village in Senegal. The school raised $3,149 through bake sales, auctions and donations.
The "Circle of Kindness" project started when Shimek teacher Alisa Meggitt suggested the school implement a relief effort in Senegal. Meggitt, who lived in Senegal from 1996-97 as a member of the Peace Corps, said the country is in the grips of a drought - possibly the worst in 30 years.
"I lived through a drought in '97," Meggitt said. "Our animals died, huts collapsed and the kids got really, really sick. This year's drought is a lot worse. In light of what's going on in the world, I thought we should grow our circle of kindness and help out."
Funds to provide medicine, education
• Shimek Elementary students raised $3,149 through bake sales, auctions and donations to aid Ndiouffene, a rural village in Senegal, Africa. The village is in the grips of a drought - possibly the worst in 30 years.
• Education in Ndiouffene is limited to villagers who can afford the annual $7 fee for school supplies.
• Shimek teacher Alisa Meggitt estimates that funds and supplies will provide every student in the 400-person village with several years of school supplies and treat hundreds of sick children.
In addition to the money, several Shimek families donated more than 15 boxes of medical and school supplies, clothing and other items.
Fifth-grader Max Caballero was busy packing and taking an inventory of the items collected Thursday. The 10-year-old carefully divided up the items into categories before placing the supplies in boxes.
"It (the project) is important because there is a drought," he said. "It's fun because I like to organize."
Meggitt said she plans to return to Senegal in June to deliver the money and the donated goods. She estimates that the funds and supplies will provide every student in the 400-person village with several years of school supplies and treat hundreds of sick children.
Education in Ndiouffene is limited to villagers who can afford the annual $7 fee for school supplies, Meggitt said. As for the $3,000, she said such an amount of money is unheard of in the village and likely exceeds the total kept at the local bank.
There will be an afternoon assembly at the school today to recognize the students' accomplishments. Meggitt said the Shimek students and parents went above and beyond what was expected of them.
"They exceeded our expectations," she said. "I thought we would only raise $200."
Shimek Principal Charlie Towers called the project a rousing success, because it not only raised a substantial amount of money for people in need, it also taught the students life lessons.
"I think it really promoted to our students the kinds of effects we can have in enriching other people's lives," he said.
