Saturday, March 13, 2010

Students Volunteer in El Salvador

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Owen Sound
by Diana Meder    

While most kids will be taking it easy next week for March Break -- at least one group of Owen Sound students are heading south, but not to bask in the sunshine.

Lydia Foch is a teacher and Chaplaincy leader at St. Mary's high school. 

She'll be taking a group of 12 students and their chaperones to El Salvador for the next two weeks.

The students will be working in an orphanage that houses children with mental and physical disabilities who've been abandoned on the streets of San Salvador.

She says the students will be paying their own way for the most part with some fundraising and donations as well.

Each student has been told to pack as much as possible for the orphanage...everything from clothing and games to medical supplies and Canadian souvenirs. 

Foch has made the trip before with other schools -- but this is the first time St. Mary's students will be going.

She says while they're supposed to be helping orphans -- the students themselves will be the true beneficiaries.

Foch says the students will gain an immense appreciation for what they have and will come to realize in a short time, how material things can't bring us happiness.