Students Take Action and Make a Difference at GEMS

At GEMS, students in the middle school have a continuous focus on giving back to our community of Georgia and to the larger global community. Students in the Service Learning class have taken action and made a difference in our world by working on a project that will benefit a group in need. Students have been learning about the group in need and then created and carried out a plan to reach out to our school community for assistance.

During the first four years of the Service Learning class the work focused on raising funds to support building schools in Afghanistan in partnership with Direct Aid International. Last year’s Service Learning class in Georgia contributed $437.49 to Direct Aid International. This year students conducted an Easter sale by making and selling Easter type decorations and selling plants to benefit Direct Aid International.

On March 28^th, the students in the Service Learning class were joined by other 6^th-8^th grade students to hear from Jonathan Hoffman, of Direct Aid International. He has received contributions from organizations and individuals throughout the state of Vermont for Direct Aid International to build schools in Afghanistan. Mr. Hoffman is responsible not only for the money end of the fund raising, but also follows through with overseeing the construction of schools in Afghanistan.

Last year, in 2015, he reported that six schools were contracted and several more locations were determined for 2016.  This was a great experience for our students to see the results of their efforts. Mr. Hoffman’s presentation of a world project made that connection real for our students. GEMS students are making contributions to our community and to the world!

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