Page 184 - EMBRACE Book

“During the trip, I really saw, you know, how Rwandan people are so thankful and happy
High School Challenge
To engage Canadian youth in the issues of maternal and
child health in developing countries, ADRA developed a High
School Challenge. Schools across the country were invited to
compete for an opportunity to travel to one of the countries
where EMBRACE was working.
The High School Challenge consisted of four challenges
designed to inform Canadian young people about the
difficulties people face living in remote regions of our world,
lacking many of the services available in Canada.
Gloria Abotanatin, Teacher – “Our school principal received
an email from ADRA inviting our school to join and I went to
the website and I looked at the high school challenge. I really
thought that it is a good idea for my students, and it is
something that they can do that they can learn from.”
The first challenge was about water. The students learned
how 2.1 billion people in our world do not have convenient
access to safe water and may have to walk long distances
184 every day for the water they need. The students were asked
to calculate how much water they used in a typical day, then
locate a store about six kilometres from their school, and
walk there to collect the water that they would use in one
day.
In the second challenge, the students learned how millions of
people do not have access to enough food to live a healthy
and active life. The students were asked to choose one of the
countries where the EMBRACE project of ADRA is working
and cook a typical meal from that country, showing how they
about what Canada has been doing, that the Government of Canada has been helping
them.”
- Gloria
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler
“Everything that ADRA did, from the babies, from the young ones, to the teenagers, to
the mothers. Also building relationships inside the home and fixing relationships
between husbands and wives. It makes me more proud to be a Canadian, knowing how
Canada, they’re not selfish with the blessings that are coming in. They are becoming a
help to other countries, as well. Because of this High School Challenge, I’ve developed
and learned new skills that I never thought I would be able to do. Once I grow up and I
helping those developing countries.”
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler
have my own career, I want to be involved in one of the ADRA projects or charity works,
- Hannah, Student
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler
could improve the nutritional value of the meal by adding
new items that would be locally available.
The third challenge was about the lack of health care
facilities that people face in remote communities. Students
were asked to design and build a model of a maternal
healthcare facility for a vulnerable village. “Teaching them how to garden and giving them the methods like the Mandela method.
Like, it really helped a lot of people and their plants are really growing healthy. Yeah, the
The fourth challenge asked the students to write and Canadian Government is really doing great. They’re giving out of love the blessings that
perform a play that dealt with sexual reproductive health they have that other countries don’t have. Making friendships to other countries.”
and human rights that might help educate the youth of a
village to avoid teenage pregnancy. - Phyllis, Student
“When I received the email that my students won the
challenge, well of course I was very happy. And I told my
students that I have great news to tell you! You know, we Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler
won in the ADRA challenge and we’re going to Rwanda!” “EMRBACE, honestly, just seeing them, how they help people and the impact that they
have, makes me feel thankful that there are some organizations that do stuff like this for
During the summer of 2019, Gloria’s three high school the people that are in need. For me, I think Canada is just a friendly nation, giving out the
students from Toronto, ON, visited the country of Rwanda in helping hand. Since Canada is blessed and given so much opportunity as a country. It’s
Africa. During their 10-day tour, they soaked in the beautiful just really great to see that Canadians are really doing a great thing around the world, 185
scenery of the country, learned about the history of Rwanda,
you know, just helping out. I think that’s really great. It’s been one of the best experiences
the culture of the people, and how the Government of that I’ve had. I had a lot of emotions. I was like, heartbroken, I was happy. And, you
Canada and ADRA through the project of EMBRACE are know, just going through the trip, honestly, it taught me a lot. It’s not just, oh, I had fun.
helping people in remote regions of the country live But it’s also a trip where you can learn and it really is just a great experience, you know.
healthier, happier, more food-secure lives. I rate it 11 out of 10.”
- Lester, Student
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler
Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler