ItB次元官网网址檚 a Tuesday lunchtime at Spencer middle school in Langford and students buzz around a group of tables in the central courcourse.

WhatB次元官网网址檚 causing these teens to line up three and four deep? ItB次元官网网址檚 the Winter Wonderland market, where people are invited to pick up delicious homemade goodies to snack on, or find Christmas gifts, along with such items as handmade tree ornaments, jewelry and candy-filled mugs.

The first day of the sale brought in around $400 for clean water related projects in Haiti, according to Grade 8 teacher Jennifer Nixon, who has lost her voice and did her best to guide the youth in setting up just minutes before.

As lunchtime moves along, a trio of students step aside briefly to talk about the sale.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really fun to be here and raising money for a good cause,B次元官网网址� said Grade 8 student Cleopatra Tringham. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e selling a lot of ornaments and candy bags and chocolates, and essentially anything really neat that looks homemade.B次元官网网址� Students were pre-warned about the market, billed as a way to find B次元官网网址済ifts for your friends and family,B次元官网网址� she said.

Fellow Grade 8 Madison Dubray contributed to the stock by putting together the custom hot chocolate mugs, decorating them with a candy cane and filling them with candies. Asked about the cause the proceeds of the sale would benefit, she said it is an important one.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so many people around the world that need food, water and the basic needs,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think raising money will be able to help them meet those basic needs. Everyone should have access to those things.B次元官网网址�

Grade 6 student Emily Hanna, one of the younger organizers in the group, agreed.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really cool to make a difference in the world,B次元官网网址� she said.

Jon Carr, aboriginal education teacher at Spencer, oversaw the students on this project along with Nixon. The teens came up with all the ideas for the sale and chose what items to sell, he said. Not only did they enjoy those kinds of freedoms, he added, they exercised a spirit of giving through the whole project.

B次元官网网址淓veryone wants to be part of making a difference, locally and globally,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think the sense of need right now is pretty high in the world, and students know that and feel that and this is an outlet for them to make a difference.B次元官网网址�

He hoped that learning about altruism at this age will inspire them to make a difference as they move forward in their lives. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to see the kids in a giving mood. ItB次元官网网址檚 really nice for them to be able to give back to community and to put their energy into a really positive space.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com