Heritage Middle Challenges Students to Change the World

Published January 11, 2007

An independent study project for two Heritage Middle School students has turned into a successful attempt at raising both money and awareness for genocide ravaged areas of Africa.

Eighth graders Graham Carney and Drew Kelley are in Melinda Leake's language arts class which recently studied The Diary of Anne Frank. Carney and Kelley had already read the book, so they were given an independent study assignment to compare the Holocaust with the genocide that goes on in our world today.

Carney and Kelley concentrated their "Change the World" project on Darfur and Rwanda. They presented Microsoft Movie Maker and PowerPoint presentations to Heritage Middle School eighth grade language arts classes on genocide happening in the region, and offered students a challenge to help make a difference. They asked their fellow students to make butterflies to represent the 1.5 million children killed during the Holocaust; collect $3,000 for food and other aid in Darfur and Rwanda; and also write letters to Congress and President Bush. Students greatly exceeded their expectations and raised $5,000 for Darfur and Rwanda; wrote 800 letters; and created 250 butterflies which will be sent to the Houston Holocaust Museum for an exhibit opening next year.

"What a wonderful gesture by these students," says Leake. "It's a great gift to a world that can be skeptical about the compassion of youth today."

Congratulations to Graham, Drew, and the entire Heritage Middle School community for helping in such a worthy cause!