Christmas presents were not enough.
Daniel Davenport, 13, and his 11-year-old sister Amy were looking for a way to provide more than just gifts to the less fortunate, so instead of presents, they sent one of the necessities of life.
“Water. It is what we have needed since the Stone Age,” Daniel said. “You cannot go wrong in the catalogue of helping people, but we had to pick something that is accomplishable, helpful and lasting.”
Searching for an organization that could facilitate their long-term goal led them to Plan Canada, a non-profit organization with a mandate to improve the lives of children in developing countries.
“My sister and myself wanted to make a difference and help those less fortunate,” Daniel continued. “Not only does it give them water, it frees (them) up from trekking all day every day to get water.”
With the help of their mother Lesley, who moonlights as a nature and landscape photographer, they came up with a plan to raise $1,000.
Taking what they called the “Girl Guide approach,” the two Saanich kids combined their $20 allowance with funds from babysitting work to buy bulk card stock and print their mother’s nature photographs. By making photo greeting cards, they developed a product with the money many others their age would have spent on themselves.
“For a couple of years now they have wanted to support charitable causes but we don’t just write them a cheque,” Lesley said. “They have to come up with a way to raise the money.”
The two students spent their evenings gluing photographs to card stock, bundling them with envelopes to sell at craft fairs, to family members, friends and teachers for $1 each.
One thousand cards later, the pair reached their goal and contacted Plan Canada to let them know they would be sponsoring 13 families in Sudan.
“Some people out there aren’t as fortunate as we are. That got me thinking that I can do something,” Amy said. “Some people out there need the money. I have a great life; I don’t really need the money.”
Anyone interested in purchasing photocards can email al__baby@hotmail.com.
alim@vicnews.com