Making Change Work Inspires Efforts Beyond Our Borders

By HALEY HARRIS-BLOOM
8th grade student, Sonoma Country Day School, Santa Rosa, CA

As soon as I heard about the Roots of Peace Penny Campaign called Making Change Work, I was interested in helping and getting involved right away! I wanted to help this wonderful project that rebuilds safe schools and playgrounds on former minefields in Afghanistan and bring it to my school. I contacted the Roots of Peace office, and I am now a member of their student advisory group. I took Making Change Work to my school to raise money for the project.

I showed the Making Change Work school video at my school's assembly and left collection cans in the office and gallery. I was pleasantly surprised at how the kindergartners, 1st graders, 2nd graders, and 7th graders created a campaign of their own. When they told me of their independent and group efforts I was so excited to hear about it.

Many kids at my school came up to me and told me their story about how they collected their change. I had one kid in 2nd grade that had a piggy bank, and whenever he said a bad word or did a bad deed, he had to put money in the bank. So he came to school with a full piggy bank and donated it to Making Change Work!

I had two other kids that had an interesting story. One student from 4th and the other from 5th grade were bored this summer and decided to make necklaces and bracelets to sell in their neighborhood! These two girls decided the money that they raised would go to a non-profit organization that they would later choose. They raised $50 from their jewelry sales. When they heard about the Making Change Work campaign, they called me the same day to let me know this was the organization they both agreed should get their $50.

I have had a wonderful experience working with Making Change Work and plan to work with Roots of Peace for many years to come! Making Change Work inspires me because the efforts reach beyond our borders and the money raised actually gets rid of dangerous war materials and plants seeds of hope and fruit in their place.

Hearing with Understanding and Respect Gives Voice to Peace on Earth - As seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Kylie Flanagan

		“I love to write poetry. I write about different things that have happened around the world to help make people become more aware. I learned to write poetry in third grade and I’ve been writing ever since,” explained Kylie Flanagan, a sixth grade student at Blue Oak School in Napa. Kylie, and her Blue Oak classmates, have been participating in Making Change Work, a student initiative sponsored by Roots of Peace
empowering students to take action to cultivate peace in the world. The program encourages students to collect spare change to help kids in war-torn countries like Afghanistan build safe schools and playgrounds on former minefields. Inspired, Kylie wrote a poem.

Eleven-year-old Kylie embodies the spirit of giving. “I love to help others. My family has always given to others in need. We are very blessed to be in a position to give back. Also, my old school, San Domenico, introduced me to different programs to help others who are less fortunate.”

When Making Change Work came to Blue Oak School, Kylie joined right in. “Several speakers from Roots of Peace came to our school and I was astounded to learn that people couldn't walk the world safely because of landmines. The speakers described a world very different from mine. I was inspired to help,” said Kylie. “Kids can make a difference. It’s easy to participate, plus 100% of the money goes to taking the landmines out.”

Wise beyond her years, Kylie shares her view of how to bring about peace on earth. “I think it is important that we learn about different people around the world. If we learned about each other’s traditions, holidays, and facts about their lives, we would better understand and respect one another.”

Already an emissary for peace, Kylie said, “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. There are too many options!” One thing for sure is writing poetry to raise awareness about the plight of others around the world and volunteerism will always be a part of her life.