Jeff Verkaik, a sixth-grade teacher, introduced his students to the Rohingya people during a social studies lesson and invited a young refugee to his class to speak with the students about his first-hand experience. "
The Rohingya people just came on my radar a year ago as my family prepared to welcome a Rohingya family to Grand Rapids,” said Verkaik. “They are called the most persecuted people on earth. They are from Myanmar, but are being killed and kicked out of there and being forced to flee."
“The money we raise will go to an agency that helps them [Rohingya refugees] and a young man who came and talked to my class,” said Verkaik. “He has eight brothers and sisters there - all who escaped without being killed - that are now living in a rice field without any shelter and very little food.”
“We started with $30 from Mr. Verkaik, which we will pay back,” said student LaAnna Griffin, who has spent part of each class making the ornaments.”
Verkaik cut the trees that the ornaments are made out of and is helping with shipping them to those ordering online. In addition, the staff at Vanguard donated $5 each to the cause.
See the Fox 17 news coverage of the story here.
About Vanguard Charter Academy
Vanguard Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Wyoming, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes over 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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