Connecting With Others Through the Gbowee Backpack Initiative

In preparation for Confirmation each year, sixth graders engage in a service project. This year, as in 2017, the boys participated in the Gbowee Peace Foundation's Backpack Initiative, which provides backpacks, supplies and money for uniforms for high achieving young scholars in impoverished areas of Liberia. Earlier in the year the boys met with Nobel Laureate and founder of the Gbowee Peace Foundation, Leymah Gbowee, to talk about the program and its impact on the children in her country.

The boys decided to plan, market and run a bake sale to raise money for the initiative. They calculated how much they would need to raise to purchase and fill a backpack, and based on the money raised in the sale, how many backpacks they would be able to donate. Their bake sale raised more than $1,200, enabling the purchase of 48 backpacks.

This week in religion class, the boys wrote letters to the children who will receive the backpacks, which will soon be delivered to Liberia. Our boys are excited about receiving replies to their letters, and about the connections they are making with students who may live far away, but share many of their same aspirations.

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