High School Fundraiser; Aid for Children Project

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It made me feel good to help other kids.

--Sara Schreiber, student

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It began as a moment of inspiration for Vermont psychotherapist, Nora Riley. She was reading a magazine article about a U.S. soldier who recognized that the lives of Iraqi children were being devastated by war, and donated his paycheck to help them. That was the point at which Nora, who tries to make sure her two children are involved in community service projects, went into action.

An Internet search led her directly to The World Dreams Peace bridge, which despite its relatively small size, is one of the few organizations in the world addressing the issues facing the children of Iraq.

A few phone calls later and Nora had a proposal ready to submit to the director of her daughter Makayla's Compass School. This school, which exercises a creative approach to education that allows students to meet in "Interest Groups" once a week, then supported the idea of an "Iraqi Youth Project", including ten students from grades seven to eleven.

The enthusiasm of the students was peaked by having a real group of other students elsewhere in the world to think of. They not only wrote postcards to their counterparts at the school in Baghdad, but in a short few weeks created a fundraiser that allowed them to send $1,800 to the embattled school. In the words of school's director, "When I said to the children we would be able to go on, they cheered and cried. I must admit, I cried too."

The pre-school/after-school arts program presented by the school in Baghdad allows the students there to express their feelings through painting, drawing, music and other arts.

This photo essay shows the results of the work of the Compass School, the fundraiser held December 4, 2004 at the school.

Members of the Iraqi Youth Project: Nora Riley, Makayla Robinson, Alana Crocker, Megan Rose Harris, Amanda Lefevre-Bort, Sara Schreiber, Livvy Hull, Wilson Schreiber, Ashten Vogritter, Julie Abney, Jeremy Nesoff, and Matt Cunningham-Cook

Before, I didn't want to think about Iraq, because everything seemed to go wrong. Now I feel like I can do something, so I don't feel hopeless.
--Sara Lepkoff, student

When I listen to the news about the war in Iraq, it all seems so far away. But when I read about the kids at the school, then I feel connected--kids to kids. It has been important for me to feel like I can make a difference. --Makayla Robinson, student		Students at the Compass school sold raffle tickets before the event for a drawing to be held during dinner. Generous donations from the community helped in fundraising. First prize for the drawing was a Djembe drum from Everyone's Drumming in Putney, Vermont, retailing for $455.
Students scheduled a day-long event which included an Arts & Crafts and Performance Fair from one to five p.m., followed by dinner and a jazz performance from until eight p.m. The Arts & Crafts and Performance Fair featured:
Toddler crafts with local librarian Sam Maskell		A circus workshop done by Troy Wunderlee of Circus Smirkus
Mask making, and jewelry making with Jeanne Bennett		This project made me feel like I was helping. I have so much in my life, and this project makes me feel good that I can reach out and help others. --Livvy Hull, student
This project helped me grow because I could help people in need and define my talents in organizing this project. --Amanda Lefevre-Bort, student		Helping people has always been somewhat of a dream for me. Participating in this project has made that dream come true. --Wilson Schreiber, student
Students charged $7 for the Arts&Crafts and Performance Fair, $10 for dinner and jazz only, and $15 for the entire event, which included:
Jazz		The Annies, a puppet show by David Rohn, and other activities
local trapeze artist Serenity Smith		followed by dinner cooked and served by the students and their families
"This was a wonderful project," echoes Nora Riley, who started it all. "Everyone wants to do it next year!!" Nora Riley has been involved for several years in projects about kids helping kids. She started Green Mountain Kids, which organized local kids of all ages in designing projects to help kids in need. The Iraqi Youth Project is the first project to reach out to kids of another culture.