 |
The book, “look at me; i am just like you”, speaks to the many challenges facing grade school children. It offers teachers, counselors and librarians an opportunity to address issues such as bullying, isolation, racism, and depression among our youngest citizens.
The book gives specific “do’s” and don’ts” that children can use in relating to those who are different from themselves. Teaching these skills, also, shapes the character of the child and helps to reduce intolerance –the ground floor for bullying, racism, loneliness, etc. Specific character qualities, such as respect and the courage to stand up for another person, are highlighted in order to provide explicit goals in the area of interpersonal relationships. Finally, the book stresses each individual’s value. This focus helps to bring awareness to children about their personal value and ability to contribute to society.
Open My Eyes Foundation is seeking to supply one copy to school counselors in schools in Mississippi and Alabama who have limited budgets for social/emotional curriculum.
Making the World Greener, One Child at a Time!
start green. stay green. is a non-profit program that teaches students about their relationship to the environment, the problems facing the earth, and what they can do in their everyday lives to help alleviate those problems. If environmental sustainability is taught to people at a young age, they will be more likely to start green and stay green! For more information, contact the founder, Anna Mason, at startgreenstaygreen@gmail.com or visit the website at www.startgreenstaygreen.org.
Friends of Uganda was founded in the summer of 2007. One of the founders, Phyllis Hurley, had been involved with an international team to help raise money for a water purifier for Rural Health Care Foundation in Mubende, Uganda. Friends of Uganda was originally formed to help Rural Health Care Foundation. In addition to helping to provide clean drinking water for its area, Rural Health Care provides for many orphans. We work closely with Dr. Dickson Ssenoga and Mr. Willy Walusimbi, the officers of Rural Health Care Foundation.
Open My Eyes Foundation is supporting Friends of Uganda's most recent project, "Educate and Empower". This program helps fund character-driven education for three Ugandan children.
For more information, visit the website at www.friendsofuganda.biz.
Eva Gordan Elementary promotes character development for over 400 children in grades K - 3 for 45 minutes each day. School counselor, Veronica Christian, seeks to provide "fun-filled" character education for her students. Open My Eyes Foundation's support of Mrs. Christian's program will allow her to offer materials that create small group formats for tackling important issues along with materials that assist in teaching character to children that have special needs.
The Open My Eyes Foundation launched the “I Cannot Tell a Lie” essay contest in honor of President’s Day in Mississippi and Alabama. The contest promotes honesty among fourth and fifth grade children. In a national survey of 10,000 high school students, 7 out of 10 said they had cheated on a test in the last twelve months. 6 out of 10 said they would lie to get a job.
The purpose of the contest is to:
- To strengthen children’s character by understanding the value of honesty.
- To give them a specific opportunity to practice honesty.
- To create interactive discussion among class members on the consequences of not telling the truth and the rewards of being honest.
- To reward children for choosing honesty.
Overwhelmingly the teachers said the contest was effective in helping their class to be more aware of when they are tempted to not tell the truth and the group discussion helped to anchor the value of being a truthful person.
Plans are to expand the contest to reach schools nationally!
Kelsey Ann Jackson is a 17 year old senior at Brookhaven High School. She has developed a Female Bullying - Education and Prevention Program called “Mean Girls Aren’t Cool”. The programs focus is to increase awareness of bullying among girls and to educate about how, when and why it occurs; identifying bullying behaviors; empowering the victims; and getting school officials and parents involved to help prevent the problem. Kelsey’s program is very effective because she can relate to what girls are experiencing, having been a victim herself.
For more information, visit the website at www.meangirlsnotcool.com.
The purpose of Mississippi Lyme Disease Awareness is to educate the public about the dangers of Lyme Disease through presentations on the symptoms, causes, and precautions as well as the impact it has on every day life. Would you like to learn more about Lyme Disease? Schedule a presentation today. Cathy Kitchens and her daughter Kirsten are available to speak to your organization. They travel around the state of Mississippi educating the public about Lyme Disease prevention and how to obtain the correct diagnosis and treatment. When speaking to groups, they encourage others to speak out and share the knowledge which they have obtained while attending a Mississippi Lyme Disease Awareness presentation.
For more information, please email Cathy at catkitch@gmail.com.
|
