It’s been a big year for the Global Studies class at Claremont.
Last spring, the News checked in with Brie Jacobson and Ellen Forsyth, two of 30 students in a course aimed at addressing global issues related to education, food security and climate change.
As their final project, the teens, then in Grade 11, chose to throw a gala evening to raise awareness and funds for the program.
This year, the two soon-to-be grads are hosting Global Gala II, an event set to smash their original goals for the class.
The night features a 100-mile diet dinner and talks from federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May, Chris Bratseth from the Extreme Kindness Crew, University of Victoria prof and Nobel Peace Prize-winning climate scientist Andrew Weaver, as well as Mulumba Moses, a Ugandan human rights lawyer, who will fly in from Africa to speak. “We’re miles ahead of where we were last year,” Forsyth said.
“It’s getting big,” Jacobson said. “A couple of weeks ago, we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to do it with all of the pressure and everything building up. And now we’re starting to come to the realization that, after all of our hard work, it’s really starting to pay off.”
Global Studies has doubled, with two classes of 30 students, who have also organized the same weekend’s cc350 bike relay to purchase solar panels at Claremont, as well as Mad for Maddie, a four-kilometre run in support of building a school in Kenya. The students have roughly 100 confirmed guests at the gala – a number they hope to triple, as they strive to raise $25,000 for their causes. The goal was set by teacher Mark Neufeld.
“Mr. Neufeld expects more than what we think is possible,” Forsyth said.
He calls the class “150 days to change the world,” Jacobson added.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
Going Global
• Global Gala II: May 8, 6 p.m., at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney.
• cc350, Changing the Cycle bike relay for solar panels: May 6, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Claremont secondary, 4980 Wesley Rd. More info at: www.cc350.victoria.ca
• Mad for Maddie 4-km run: May 29, 10:30 a.m., at UVic. Contact raisetheroofevents@gmail.com for more info.