News & Events

Elmwood student spends summers building schools

Summer vacation is usually a time to relax, enjoy the weather, read a good book or get some stuff done around the house. For Elmwood student and activist Anisha Dhalla, summer is an entirely different affair. Instead of relaxing, she's helping to build local schools in impoverished communities around the world.

Last year, along with a group of 21 young women, she volunteered with Free the Children and helped construct a school for children in the community of Salabwek, Kenya. "Digging the foundation, crushing large rocks with a sledgehammer, mixing cement into the rocks and laying one brick at a time to build the school was a life-changing experience for me," Anisha shared.

Elmwood aims to create compassionate, engaged global citizens and Anisha personifies these traits. This summer she is volunteering in Lai Gow, India, aiding in the construction of a school for illiterate children. This time, she is taking her volunteering efforts even further by raising funds to help sustain the school that she is helping to build with her own two hands.

Anisha's initial goal was to raise $2,500 which will train the teacher, furnish the entire classroom with desks, chairs and books, and will also feed all the children lunch for an entire year.

The enterprising young woman canvassed her neighbourhood and friends, set up posterboards of her Kenya trip at her mother's office, raised funds online through Free the Children and has already surpassed the $3,000 mark.

Mindful of the inequities that exist around the globe, Anisha recognizes our commitment to, and responsibilities for our community, our society and the world. In one of her fundraising appeals she states:

"I would like to ask all of you, from the bottom of my heart, to donate and help children living in poverty to have the opportunity to receive an education, something that we all take for granted."

Interested in learning more about Anisha's campaign with Free the Children?

Download Lai Gow Community Profile (pdf)

Donate to Anisha's campaign (external link to Free the Children website)

Read the recent article about Anisha in the Nepean-Barrhaven EMC newspaper (pdf)