(Georgina) - Nobody came to
Prince of Peace Catholic Elementary School earlier
this month.
Don't worry though, after a while, Nobody will
become a Somebody as part of this unique literacy
and character education program for students in
grades 1 to 8.
The program, donated to six classes at
Keswick's Prince of Peace school by the Markham
Sunrise Rotary Club, also acts as a preventable
bullying aid "because it helps students build
mutual respect by highlighting the fact that
everybody is sombody who the world needs,"
according to Kelly Clark, director of the Who Is
Nobody program.
The program uses literacy to help at-risk youth
by getting them to watch and experience the Rotary
Club motto "service above self".
The program begins with the arrival of a
mysterious box in the classrooom addressed to
"Everybody" from "Nobody". When the teacher opens
the box, he or she finds a blue denim gingerbread
shaped Nobody doll inside. The doll is otherwise
completely non-descript.
The teacher gives each student a different week
staggered over the school year to take Nobody
home, follow simple steps to do a project to help
other living things, for example, people, animals
or the environment, Ms Clark explained.
Over the school year Nobody starts to become a
Somebody with a variety of 3-D attachments
representing community outreach projects that
students have done, for example, donating their
time, materials and funds while creating awareness
for causes such as breast cancer, animal rights,
global warming.
For example, if a student shovelled the
driveway for an elderly neighbour, he or she can
add a tox sandbox shovel to the doll to represent
the good deed.
"Students become really passionate about their
community contributions, building respect in
themselves and their peers for their altruistic
actions," Ms Clark said. Who Is Nobody programs
are distributed with support from The Printing
House and Rotary clubs.
For more see the website www.whoisnobody.com
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