5-year-old shows it's never too early to give back after raising thousands to help refugees

A five-year-old Winnipeg girl is proving that you're never too young to make a difference after raising thousands of dollars for refugees by selling hand-made ornaments.

It all started when  Gwen Eckstein, a kindergarten student, saw a TV commercial for the UNHCR — the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — which spoke about the international refugee crisis and showed children and families who were suffering.

"It just grabbed her attention," said Gwen's mother, Tamara Eckstein.

As the weeks passed, Gwen's urge to do something only grew stronger, her mother said.

"One night about six weeks ago, she just came out and said, 'Mommy, we need to do something. We need to help those kids on the commercial,'" Tamara said.

Gwen came up with a "cohesive plan" to fill up the family's car with food and building materials and drive to the countries in need — but her mother helped her develop something a bit more feasible.

They decided to make ornaments to sell to friends and family members instead, painting the colourful bulbs by rolling them in a variety of paints.

The mother-daughter duo hoped to sell maybe $100 worth of ornaments, but have now raised $3,000.

"The people really needed help," Gwen told CBC Radio's Weekend Morning Show host Nadia Kidwai.

The money will be donated to IRCOM, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, which helps newcomer families transition into their new lives in Canada.

Tamara said she feels very proud of her young daughter's drive to help those in need.

"It's overwhelming. As a mom, I feel for the families, for the young children who are suffering, and I just try to put myself in that situation. It's really, really hard to think of what they're dealing with," she said.

"I'm super proud of her for coming up with this and just being a part of it, and wanting to help, and having that natural characteristic in her."

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