How local Gen Z students are solving real world problems

In November 2019, 14 Aberdeen Hall students and their teachers, Ms. Dunn and Mr. Acree, participated in the school’s inaugural service-learning trip to Project Somos in Guatemala. Project Somos supports indigenous families and children living in extreme poverty in rural Guatemala. They provide quality education and healthy meals to these families in an eco-sustainable community known as "The Children’s Village."

During their time at The Project, Aberdeen Hall students rolled up their sleeves, worked in the fields, prepared snacks and meals in the kitchen, assisted with cleaning, and most importantly, they interacted with the children at Project Somos.

Upon their return, several Grade 9 students connected with their Entrepreneurship teacher, Mr. Cutler, to leverage their experience at Project Somos into the focus of their Sustainable Development Challenge class project.

The Sustainable Development Challenge encourages students to use the United Nations’ Global Goals to do their part to tackle one of the 17 global issues facing us all (climate crisis, poverty, gender equality, etc.). Student teams are paired with locally-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to create innovative solutions for these goals.

The dynamic pairing between students and NGOs allows these future leaders to put everything they are learning about philanthropy, the environment and human rights to the test and make the world a better place.

Two of Aberdeen Hall’s student groups, Sheep for Somos and Farm to Table to Farm, have made it to the Sustainable Development Challenge semi-finals on February 25, 2020.

Sheep for Somos is tackling the Global Goal of reducing poverty through their work with Project Somos. After speaking with the organization’s co-founder, if they win the $5000 prize they will purchase sheep for Project Somos. Sheep can provide wool which the mothers at Project Somos can use to make felties (little wool stuffies) and dryer balls, which they can then sell to generate an income. Whereas the Project previously provided these women with wool sourced from a vendor, with their new sheep they will be saving money as they won't need to purchase wool.

In turn, the money saved helps Project Somos keep their school bus running, which will bring more students from the surrounding villages to school.

Farm to Table to Farm is working with Green Okanagan on an initiative to reduce food and plastic waste in schools and supporting local and ethical farming. They will be implementing a series of workshops within the Junior School at Aberdeen Hall educating the Kindergarten through Grade 5 students on food waste and how they can reduce waste within their daily lives. Their hopes are to expand these educational workshops to other schools in Kelowna.

Teams are competing for a $5,000 prize to make their project a reality but the real reward is the lessons students learn about solving real-world problems using a holistic approach. Their young minds are being trained to think critically and deeply about how they can create sustainable changes in the world.

Changing the world isn’t an easy task and the 17 Global Goals that the SDC wishes to solve are massive endeavours — but the students at Aberdeen Hall have already shown that they can take on such a challenge with enthusiasm.

If you’d like to support and learn more about Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School and if this is the type of holistic learning environment is right for your child, please Get To Know Aberdeen Hall.

To get involved in this federally funded program built to entertain, educate and inspire action across the globe, join the cause like Aberdeen Hall and check out the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Aberdeen Hall is a non-profit, co-educational and non-denominational independent university prep school offering classes from Preschool to Grade 12. Aberdeen Hall fosters academic excellence in a progressive school environment that is safe and caring. Our school in Kelowna offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities and supports a strong sense of community. For more information, visit www.aberdeenhall.com.

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