Submitted by Centennial Elementary School
“You must be the change you want to see in the world! “ Students from Centennial Elementary in Olympia, Washington have taken this quote by Mahatma Gandhi to heart and used their young voices to sing their original song, “THE VOICE” at a local event to raise awareness of child trafficking. Their music video can be viewed on YouTube. Centennial students are proud to be among the first elementary students to speak out against human trafficking and sincerely hope that their “Voice” will be heard and move others to action!
The students will also participate in the 9th Annual Centennial “Climbing For Kids Competition”, a fun and friendly rock climbing competition, to raise money to help children who have been affected by child trafficking. On March 28th and March 29th 2013, Centennial students, supported by the Centennial staff and Lacey District 3 Firefighters will complete climbing routes marked by colored tape to earn points on an indoor bouldering wall at Centennial during their physical education classes. In addition to helping students learn the sport of climbing, get great exercise and have loads of fun, CLIMBING FOR KIDS is also a fundraiser to help children in need. The students ask family, friends and local businesses to pledge “a penny a point” for the points they score in the competition. For a better understanding of the event, view Centennial students in action at last year’s event on YouTube. Last year’s CLIMBING FOR KIDS raised nearly $4500.00 for Seattle-based “Outdoors for All” to purchase equipment to help kids with disabilities enjoy outdoor recreation.
Centennial students chose to climb for THE TRONIE FOUNDATION this year after learning from Centennial parent Rani Hong (founder of the Tronie Foundation and special advisor to the United Nations) that of the 27 million victims of human trafficking, half are children. Rani is a kidnapped child trafficking survivor-turned-advocate, now working to spark an international movement against modern-day slavery. As a child living in India, Hong was kidnapped from her family and sold into slavery at the age of seven by a woman who promised her parents that she would receive an education. “This is why I’m telling my story today,” said Hong, “There are millions of other individuals, like that little girl I was — imprisoned, enslaved, and silenced — unable to tell their stories. I speak for those without a voice. Washington State is again leading our country in the fight against human trafficking,” said Hong. “And we want to help ensure the State’s message gains the attention it deserves so others will follow our lead”.
Centennial principal, Alice Drummer comments, “Climbing for Kids is an awesome event which teaches our kids to think beyond the walls of Centennial and become global citizens of the world. We are delighted to support THE TRONIE FOUNDATION this year!”
Centennial students are fantastic children doing fantastic things to help others! Please contact Jana Gedde – jgedde@osd.wednet.edu at Centennial Elementary, Olympia (360 596-8300) for more information.
To learn more about the Tronie Foundation, visit: www.troniefoundation.org or call (360 705-1230).
