Kenya Trip

Monarch Park Collegiate (MPC) is proud to announce an exciting opportunity for its students in the area of International Development and Community Building.

In 2007 and again in 2009, MPC students travelled to Kenya to build school houses and to work with a community on the Maasai Mara. We are going to continue this wonderful learning opportunity in May of 2011 by sending a group of approximately 20 students and 2 staff members back to Kenya! The students will work on projects such as building a schoolhouse, working with local community members, learning about the environment and social justice. The depth of student commitment and compassion at MPC has been an inspiration to other students, our staff and to many supporters in the community.

Before going to Kenya, the students will be studying topics such as International Development, Environmentalism, Human Rights, Leadership, and East African History (modern, colonial and tribal). On their return, students will work with local school communities to share their learning and to assist other students in understanding how they, as individuals and in groups, can make a positive change in the world. After the Kenya trip, our students travelled to schools across the city and shared this message with over 5,000 students.

The cost of the program is approximately $5,000.00 per student to cover airfare, food, incidentals and transportation on the ground in Kenya. While the expectation is that students will be paying for this trip themselves, the school is committed to raising as much of the per student cost as possible through school based fundraising activities, grant applications and by appeals to corporate and individual sponsors. To ensure that every student regardless of their life situation is provided with the opportunity to participate, we are looking for community partners to support this dynamic venture and to assist in ensuring its sustainability.

If you or your organization can provide any support, with funds or products, we would be most appreciative. If you are considering a financial donation, please make cheques payable to the Toronto District School Board and on the note line indicate that it is for The Monarch Park Collegiate Kenya Fund. Tax receipts can be issued for sums of twenty-five dollars or more. Gifts of products for raffles, silent auctions and other fund-raising ventures are also appreciated. Please direct cheques and/or gifts directly to the school.

More and more we read about young adults who are embracing the idea of social justice and global citizenship. Since the inception of this initiative, the efforts of our students to raise awareness and funds for local and international caused have been extraordinary and, in turn, been life-altering experiences for them. On their behalf, I thank you for taking the time to consider this request to support Monarch Park students. If you have any question about the project or how you may support this initiative, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at 416-292-0190, extension 20010 or Vice Principal Steve Yee at 20011.

Principal

Cynthia Abernethy