Alief ISD fifth graders learning to give back

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Some fifth-grade children in Alief ISD are getting a better view of the world by raising money to help others worldwide.

Even though 79 percent of the children at Chancellor Elementary School are socio-economically disadvantaged, they are already learning to give back.

"We are about $100 away from our $3,000 goal," teacher Teresa Dola said.

These fifth-graders aren't your ordinary kids. They're working to become global citizens.

"We give people another chance to make their life better," student Nicoles Lepton said.

Students in Dolan's class have been working to raise money to help entrepreneurs in other countries like Mexico, Vietnam, Jordan and even Iraq.

They're working with the charity, Kiva, an organization that loans donated money globally to people starting businesses. The students pick recipients from the charity's website.

"We read their stories and the ones we have a good, personal connection with, that we can related with, we just start giving it to them because we know how they feel," student Edison Huynh said.

But they do their research, taking time to look at conditions in the country. Many in the class are children of immigrants, so they want to give back. Each child set a goal of raising $50 and they've worked to get it.

"I've done helping hand tickets around my house, doing chores and taking up all the chores in the house," student Ayodeji Odole said.

So far, they've raised $2,900 of their $3,000 goal. They've also made 15 loans.

Mrs. Dolan says the project teaches the kids they can always help, and it's had an impact on them.

"I think one of the greatest things of this project is to show it doesn't matter how old you are, where you come from, your economic background. Everyone can give, everyone has a way to change the world," Dolan said.

"I feel like I'm really connected to the project and I feel like I'm a part of something now," student Daniel Karee said.

By Tuesday afternoon, the students exceeded their donation goal with a car wash, reaching $3,200. They plan on raising money through the end of the school year.

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local, melanie lawson

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