Emo girl making a difference

EMO—As Canadians, we expect the educational system to prepare our children for the future.
We expect our schools to be accessible to all students—and hope that each child will be able to achieve a personal level of success.
This certainly is not the case for all the children of the world, however. Education is a fundamental right and yet 130 million children across the globe do not have access to it.
This is what eight-year-old Emily Loney of Emo learned as she and her family watched a TVOntario “special” a short time before Christmas.
The program, sponsored by World Vision Canada, introduced viewers to a new type of Christmas catalogue. Instead of containing the usual Christmas presents of clothing and toys, it was full of “Canada’s most meaningful gifts—gifts that change the world.”
Instead of giving a loved one another scarf they don’t really need, Canadians are encouraged to honour their family and friends by giving life-changing gifts to the poverty-stricken people of the world.
For example, for $200 you can give the gift of two goats, for $600 you can give a cow, or for a mere $35 you can donate two rabbits. Two rabbits, which will multiply rapidly, will allow a family to start a small business.
When young Loney received her catalogue, she carefully read about each gift—trying to figure our how she could help the people who needed it the most.
Finally, she saw the gift that she thought would make the biggest difference: for $60 she could educate a girl in China.
“Without help, a poverty-stricken girl in rural China might never have a chance to get an education and achieve her dreams,” the gift catalogue read. “Your donation will give one such girl the opportunity to go to school and rise above her circumstances.”
“So I decided to send enough money for three girls,” Loney said quietly.
The eight-year-old decided she would make bookmarks and sell them to raise the necessary $180.
Each bookmark is a unique, hand-made creation. First, Loney carefully colours a picture or design on a bookmark-size piece of cardboard. Then her mother laminates the bookmarks.
Finally, the youngster adds a brightly-coloured yarn tassel to finish off each one.
“They only cost $1,” Loney offered with a smile.
“So far, I only have $56.06, but I hope to get the rest soon,” she added.
Loney basically has been selling her creations to family and friends, but is willing to make more if anyone is interested in supporting her efforts.
Although the World Vision catalogue offers gifts that can be used to feed, to grow crops, and to start small businesses, their educational gifts may offer the most hope to a world in need.
“Education is the best way to empower people with the tools, knowledge, strength, and confidence they need to promote and protect their own rights, growth, and self-sufficiency,” Craig Kielburger, who started the group “Free the Children,” as a teen, recently wrote.
“Education helps families, communities, and even entire nations break the cycle of poverty.”
To some people, what Loney is trying to do may seem somewhat insignificant. After all, with millions of children in need, how can helping three girls in China make a difference?
To those three girls however, Loney’s gift of love will make a world of difference.
And if we all followed her example of generosity, maybe we actually could change the world.
(Fort Frances Times)