June 1, 2006

Student finds a practical way to help:
Fund-raiser helps buy goats for families in impoverished nations

By LAURA CZEKAJ, Ottawa Sun

A Grade 4 Alta Vista Public School student has raised enough money to buy 78 goats for families in developing countries.

David Campion-Smith, 10, has been compared to anti-child-labor activist Craig Kielburger and is making his own mark on global activism — one goat at a time.

Inspired by his school’s fundraising efforts after the 2004 tsunami, Campion-Smith expressed a desire to his mom and principal to help people in dire need.

“I wanted to help people who don’t have as much as we do here,” he said.

After doing some Internet surfing, the budding activist discovered Free The Children, the organization founded by Kielburger, and through them decided to raise enough money to buy 27 goats at $50 each, or one per home room at his school.

The goats provide milk and the sale of their offspring provides much-needed income for struggling families in developing countries.

Bake sales, poetry book fundraisers and many donations later, the overwhelming response to the campaign dubbed David’s Dream raised nearly $4,000 to buy 78 goats. Principal Heather Graham said Campion-Smith has a certain spark that makes him help others. She added that the 605 students at the school, the staff and the parents have always banded together to help others, raising thousands for charities over the years.

“They are a really cool community because they come together for these things,” she said.

Meanwhile, Campion-Smith said he would like to do this all again next year.

Anyone wanting to donate can call the school at (613) 733-7124.

laura.czekaj@ott.sunpub.com