Heritage Middle School students attend WE Day in recognition of service efforts

BERWYN – It's not every day that schoolchildren raise money to buy goats for families in Africa. But that's exactly what a group of Heritage Middle School students did this year as part of the Me to WE Club, an extracurricular group that focuses on both local and global fundraising and service projects.

And the Berwyn students’ hard work paid off because 17 club members earned tickets to attend WE Day on March 1 at Allstate Arena, where WE Club members from schools across the state learned from each other and heard inspiring stories about service projects that have made a difference in local communities and around the world.

The WE organization, which is based in Canada, offers free service-learning curriculum and programming ideas to participating schools that engage students in societal issues and encourage volunteerism.

Eighth-graders Ashley Jimenez, 13, and Dena Ahmed, 14, are WE Club ambassadors at Heritage, which means they’re leaders in the club. Both girls said they love being a part of the school’s Me to WE Club because they enjoy working on projects that help others.

“Our favorite was the goat project because people in Tanzania can use goats for milk or meat. We learned that if we each give a little, it can go a long way,” Dena said. “WE Day was very inspiring and eye-opening. I was shocked to see what some young kids are doing. I realized I can make a difference, even though I’m young.”

The Allstate Foundation was instrumental in bringing the WE program to the U.S., and it continues to sponsor WE Day. More than 15,000 students from more than 500 schools across Illinois were bussed in for the event, which featured appearances by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, along with stars from NBC’s “The Voice” and the popular teen television show “Pretty Little Liars.”

Daniel Waters, spokesman for the Allstate Foundation, said the program challenges kids to take on and lead programs that address important social issues.

“The idea is to engage kids and get them to commit to giving back throughout their whole lives,” he said. “They need to see the impact they can have on the world. WE Day brings kids who’ve all completed incredible volunteer projects, and when you put them in the same room together, they feed off each other.”

Ashley said she enjoys meeting new people through the club and being able to share ideas with her peers and plan activities they can all do together.

“It’s cool to help people in Berwyn, but it’s also cool to help people in Tanzania. It makes me happy and proud, and it makes me more motivated to help more people,” she said.

Heritage’s homerooms competed against each other to see which one could raise the most money for the goat drive. Each goat costs $50, and Rachel Belkov, a teacher at Heritage and one of the WE Club's sponsors, said while they’re still tallying up the amount, she thought they raised about $1,200.

Belkov said the project was special because the kids know exactly where all the money is going. She said it’s up to them to come up with creative ideas on how to raise funds.

“They feel a sense of empowerment. [The teachers] help them, but they do most of the work,” Belkov said. “They take charge, and some really find their voice in the program because it forces them to be leaders. They love WE Day because they get inspired by everyday stories, and they hear about real people who faced challenges and have overcome.”

The Me to WE Club’s local project was a mitten tree, which was held around the holidays. The school collected gloves, hats, scarves and other cold weather gear and donated it to the YMCA. The club also is planning to hold a spring food drive soon.

“We usually do smaller service projects every month because it’s a great way to involve kids, schools and the community. It brings them together,” Belkov said. “The club also gives kids a global perspective because while there are a lot of problems in the U.S., they learn that poverty in Africa isn’t always the same as it is here.”