Markham students send school supplies to Kashechewan evacuees
Boxwood Public School, Wismer Public School students 'compelled to do something about the inequity'
Children who were evacuated from a community on the James Bay Coast in Ontario's far north are getting much needed support after their homes were flooded.
About 100 Kashechewan students are living in the town of Kapuskasing, several hundred kilometres from home, while their homes are repaired.
Students from two elementary schools in Markham, Ont., decided to send school supplies to the students from Kashechewan after hearing about their situation.
Boxwood Public School and Wismer Public School are sending backpacks full of school supplies to the evacuees this week.
"They've obviously studied Malala, Craig Kielburger, and they're doing this great work internationally standing up for education around the world. I think the students felt compelled to do something about the inequity in education here too," said Cindy Sisti, a teacher and librarian at Wismer Public School.
Boxwood Public School teacher Libby St-Jean says each bag includes an inspiring note, which may be more treasured than the pencils and paper.
"They wrote letters and a lot of the letters said things like, you know ,'We've got your back. We're on your side."
Arvind Arulraj, a Grade 6 student at Boxwood Public School, said students "want to make allies with the kids in Kashechewan. We just don't want to do something good and get it over with."
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus is helping to co-ordinate the delivery of the backpacks. He said the gesture symbolizes the start of a transforming change for the displaced students.
"We want the same standards that kids in Timmins or Sudbury have," he said.
Angus said the students living on the reserve in Kashechewan will receive school supplies too. He is working with a non-profit group called True North Aid to drop off donations in the new year.