RMS Pen Pals Club Spreads Compassion with BBQ Fundraiser

Updated November 27, 2013

Community Members Join Radnor Middle School Pen Pals Club to Support Ugandan Peers at "Compassion in Action BBQ"

More than 260 meals were purchased at Radnor Middle School's "Compassion in Action BBQ" hosted by the school's Pen Pals Club on Nov. 21, helping raise nearly $3,000 for the students' pen pal friends at the Bupala Primary School in Uganda. The get-together community event underscored the importance of volunteer service, and included students writing tributes to people who are a source of inspiration in their lives.

According to RMS principal Anthony Stevenson: “The RMS community is happy to support this fundraiser. From what started out as a small pen pal exchange, this project has developed into a meaningful partnership with the students and teachers and gives our school community the opportunity to cultivate a meaningful service learning project that brings attention to the basic needs of students around the globe."

Laura Sacristan-Lagunas, a RMS 6th-grade pen pal, agreed: “I think it feels nice and I always like helping people. We are learning to appreciate what we have, and the Pen Pal Club is a good opportunity to meet more people.”

The club was launched in 2009 by Jodi Sabra, a 6th-grade English teacher. Its first goal was to build a new latrine facility for the Bupala School - an endeavor that was accomplished thanks to the funds raised by RMS students. The latrine was the first new construction in the village in more than a decade. The RMS community has also provided lunch for Bupala's students since February 2013. Through these efforts, RMS students learn that their actions can make a difference in the world. Not only has the enrollment and health improved in the Ugandan village, but the government recently added two new classrooms to the school.

The Pen Pal Club also honored social entrepreneur Phil Hughes, the founder of Mavuno Harvest, a dried fruit business that is transforming life in a village in Uganda. Hughes served in the Peace Corps before starting this business, which allows the people in the village to profit year-round from their fruit. This is a model of sustainability and humanity that serves as a source of inspiration for RMS’ pen pals and their community.

See pictures....there are lots of great pictures here.  See if you can find yourself! :

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