Education
Executive Council
October 15, 2008

Students Eat Rice in Support of International Development Project

Rice will be on the lunch menu for many students throughout Newfoundland and Labrador as schools participate in Rice Day. The event is sponsored by Two Villages, a province-wide, not-for-profit organization, which works to bring changes to third-world communities and in turn enables the development of students as global citizens and strong community leaders. Today, students will eat rice for lunch and donate their lunch money for the creation of a seed bank in Ethiopia.

"I am pleased to see the number of schools that have come on board this year for this important event," said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. "It is easy for most of us to go to the store and buy something to eat, but millions of people in the world don�t live that way. It is good for our students to get a sense of how dependent many people are on rice as a staple of their diet, and how a threat to that staple can affect their lives."

The seed bank is being built in the Wollo province in Ethiopia, best known for the devastating famine that killed more than one million people in 1984-85. A seed bank stores seeds as a source for planting. Storing seeds guards against catastrophic events such as natural disasters, the outbreak of disease, or war.

"The Wollo Seed Bank project has brought together students from 41 schools across the province for a common goal," said Troy Mitchell, Two Villages co-founder. "This initiative has been very well received, thanks in part to Minister Burke's encouragement to schools to participate."

In time, the seed bank in Wollo province will also contain a community centre, library and a meeting place where local farmers can share knowledge. The seed bank is ultimately expected to support more than 1,000 households in the region.

"It is important for young people to give back to the community through volunteering their time and effort, whether it is helping people in this province or around the world," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector. "Communities are founded on people living and working together to build something better for now and in the future. Having students donate their lunch money to an organization like Two Villages, which will help Wollo in its development, shows the compassion of people in this province."

"I believe activities like this are a sign that the curriculum in Newfoundland and Labrador is raising awareness that events thousands of miles away have an impact in this province," said Minister Burke. "Access to a safe food supply is something we often take for granted here, but understanding the challenges faced by places such as Wollo, Ethiopia, helps students see how vulnerable food supplies can be to Mother Nature or global events. It is good that our students are learning this important lesson."

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Media contacts:

Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca
Lesley Clarke
Communications Specialist
Intergovernmental Affairs
709-729-6026, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca

 

BACKGROUNDER

The following schools are participating in Rice Day this year:

  • Anthony Padden Elementary, Musgravetown
  • Baccalieu Collegiate, Old Perlican
  • Balbo Elementary, Clarenville
  • Bayview Regional Collegiate, St. Lunaire
  • Belanger Memorial, Upper Ferry
  • Bishops College, St. John�s
  • Botwood Collegiate, Botwood
  • Carbonear Collegiate, Carbonear
  • Christ the King School, Rushoon
  • Clarenville High School, Clarenville
  • Clarenville Middle School, Clarenville
  • Clarenville Primary, Clarenville
  • Corner Brook Regional High, Corner Brook
  • Discovery Collegiate, Bonavista
  • Elwood High School, Deer Lake
  • Fatima Academy, Sr. Bride�s
  • Heritage Collegiate, Lethbridge
  • H.L. Strong Academy, Little Bay Islands
  • Holy Heart of Mary, St. John�s
  • Holy Name of Mary Academy, Lawn
  • Indian River High, Springdale
  • J.M. Olds Collegiate, Twillingate
  • J.R. Smallwood Middle School, Wabush
  • James Cook Memorial, Cook�s Harbour
  • Lester Pearson Memorial High School, Wesleyville
  • Macdonald Drive Junior High, St. John�s
  • Marystown Central High, Marystown
  • Matthew Elementary, Bonavista
  • Mount Pearl Senior High, Mount Pearl
  • Prince of Wales Collegiate, St. John�s
  • Random Island Academy, Random Island
  • Southwest Arm Academy, Little Heart�s Ease
  • St. Bonaventure�s College, St. John�s
  • St. Francis School, Harbour Grace
  • St. Joseph�s All Grade, Terrenceville
  • St. Matthew�s Elementary, St. John�s
  • Stephenville High, Stephenville
  • Swift Current Academy, Swift Current
  • Stella Maris Academy, Trepassey
  • Tricentia Academy, Arnold�s Cove
  • Twillingate Island Elementary, Twillingate

2008 10 15                                                             9:10 a.m.


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