Growing up as Change Makers

Team Stratford Hall at World Partnership Walk 2018 in Vancouver.

 

Jenna and Natasha Manji have been attending World Partnership Walk in Vancouver since before they could walk. Celebrating in the park with friends and family, they jumped in the bouncy castle, drank coconut water, and ate juicy mangoes.

As the sisters grew up, so too did their desire to make a difference through fundraising. Wanting to involve their friends and classmates, they reached out to their Head of School at Stratford Hall to start a school team. With his full support, Jenna and Natasha became catalysts for change in their school by raising awareness about global poverty through presenting at assemblies, putting up posters, and even encouraging their classmates to join their fundraising efforts.

That was seven years ago. Today, the Stratford Hall team has grown from 10 to 80 members. What’s more, the team has raised over $170,000 to date. Not only have their efforts undoubtedly changed the lives of communities in Africa and Asia, but also their own school community. In many ways, their involvement in the Walk has opened a pathway for students to help others around the world.

“Starting and growing our school team has been an incredible opportunity to learn how to take action,” say the sisters in an email to Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC). “Canadians care about the global community, and World Partnership Walk gives our school an opportunity to improve the quality of life of others.”

Are you looking to make a difference in your school? Click here to access our School Teams Toolkit, which includes all the tools you need to start engaging your school administration and classmates.