Maryland to Kenya:
American Red Cross
School Chest Initiative
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| School chests in Kenya! |
This program benefits schools worldwide that are affected by disaster. Through "Maryland to Kenya: American Red Cross School Chest Initiative 2001," students in Maryland will help disadvantaged children in Kenya by donating much needed school supplies. Maryland educators will receive a starter curriculum designed to meet Maryland's core objectives while allowing students to serve international needs.
The culmination of the International School Chest Program is at Maryland's Service-Learning Conference, at Villa Julie College, on Thursday, March 22, 2001. We will designate regional School Chest drop-off sites around the state for those who are not attending the conference (contact MSSA for details). Drop off sites may include Red Cross chapters, Board of Education offices, military sites, and AmeriCorps sites. You do not need to attend the Conference to participate in the School Chest Program.
The goal of the project is to collect more than 250 School Chests. With all Maryland schools, after school programs, and youth groups participating this will be the largest School Chest effort in the history of the American Red Cross!
A brief history of the School Chest Program
The School Chest Program was initiated by the Junior Red Cross, which was officially created in August 1917. President Woodrow Wilson urged American children to join in this opportunity to provide services to communities at home and abroad. To become a member, pupils in organized schools were required to pay twenty-five cents or make a pledge of service to participate in Red Cross activities for the coming year. By 1919, Junior Red Cross enrollment reached 11,000,000.The School Chest Program was developed out of the Friendship Box Program, which started soon after World War I. In 1947, the School Chest Program (then known as the High School Chest Program) prepared 6,000 chests for programs designed to assist needy children abroad. The chests contained pencils, paper, chalk, erasers, books, crayons, soap, toothpaste, towels, and first aid kits. Toys and games were included. The chests were also sent children in the U. S. after disasters.
Nowadays, School Chests are sent to schools and youth centers in designated countries that are short on supplies. The contents of the School Chests are distributed to approximately 40 students. This is a very important program – not only does it strive to meet the needs of disadvantaged schools and classrooms around the world, it assists in normalizing the routines of children after war or natural disasters.
The American Red Cross School Chest Initiative in Maryland
In the fall of 2000, Maryland schools, after school programs, and youth groups were invited to assemble and present School Chests at Maryland's annual Service-Learning Conference held at Villa Julie College, March 22, 2001. Curricula and coordination for the project are possible through a collaboration of the American Red Cross, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism, Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Student Service Alliance, YMCA of Central Maryland, and teachers and students from Maryland's public schools.What is "Maryland to Kenya: American Red Cross School Chest Initiative 2001?"
This is a statewide service-learning project culminating at Maryland's Service-Learning Conference. Groups will bring their filled School Chests to the Conference, where we will hold an end of day celebration.This is an opportunity to educate Maryland youth about prevailing issues and situations around the world. The School Chest program creates a perfect opportunity for teachers to incorporate "international affairs" into daily lesson plans. The focus of this School Chest program is Kenya and it's surrounding African region.
In cooperation with their local chapter, schools, individual classrooms, after school programs, and youth groups can arrange for speakers to personally share information and experiences with students.
The American Red Cross webpage: www.crossnet.org has up to date information about international crises and ARC international response and involvement. Teachers, as well as students, can log on and look through the material. For more information on Kenya, explore these links:
Kenya Web - Africa Online - Interknowledge - All Africa - Rich Bowen - Penn - Kenyan Embassy - MBendi - Synapse - CIA - Emulate Me
Several members of the Conference Team created a Project Guide for various subject areas. These guides will help educators incorporate the program into their curriculum, in hopes of encouraging greater participation.
Because students will study Kenya prior to the conference, they may want to display related service-learning projects at the Conference during the Service Fair (contact MSSA to register).
What is a "School Chest?"
- To make a School Chest, use stackable containers durable enough for shipping. (Serilite or Rubbermaid 50-gallon containers are recommended.)
- All School Chests items should be new, clean and of good quality and appearance.
- Please do not place letters or extra materials in the chest. Some schools have shown interest in sending additional letters or materials to the recipient school. Because this is not part of the School Chest Program, please send them separately in the name of your school or organization.
- The chests are held in storage temporarily until shipped. So that a final inspection may be made at the warehouse, please do not permanently seal the chests.
- Along with the name of the school, you should either paint a red cross on white background or affix an American Red Cross decal on the chest. On the front side of the chest, carefully print the following information:
Gift of Students/teachers in
________________________________
(name of school or group)
(city, state, USA)
How is the School Chest assembled?
- Participants can determine the manner in which they assemble the School Chest. If a school is involved, participation can include one classroom or the entire school. Local chapters can pair together groups that do not want to take on a School Chest alone, by delegating what each group needs to purchase for the School Chest.
- The necessary items for the School Chest can be purchased and brought in by individual students, or a fundraising event can be organized to raise money to purchase the supplies. It is at the groups' discretion how to go about filling the School Chests.
- All the items on the list must be included to be considered a completed School Chest.
- Participants are asked not to include extra items in the School Chests. The School Chests will be distributed among classrooms in needy schools and youth centers throughout the designated region, and it would not be fair if certain classes received School Chests containing extra items not listed in the above list.
- Participants should to adhere to the listed items as closely as possible, and try to keep items in one category consistent so distribution to the individual recipient is equal.
- School Chests should be inspected before shipping to Brethren Service Center (who has a storage agreement with American Red Cross), and any culturally insensitive items should be removed.
- Once assembled and securely packaged, deliver the School Chests to Conference on March 22, 2001.
How do we go about promoting the program?
- Use your imagination!
- Students can work with local media (Pennysaver, cable television, and other venues) for free advertising to encourage community support.
- Students at Bel Air High School, in Harford County, designed posters to place in their schools and neighborhoods. Create your own posters, using their ideas (see their posters below) as a guide, and ask a local printer to duplicate them so you can promote the project in your neighborhood. Thanks to a partnership with Howard County Public Schools, you can obtain copies of one of the promotional posters -- send a request via e-mail to rhodge@mail.howard.k12.md.us.
Poster 2 - Poster 3 - Poster 4 - Poster 5 - Poster 6 - Poster 7
What happens after the School Chest is assembled?
Once the school has notified either the MSSA or the Central Maryland Chapter, indicating completion of the School Chest, one of several things can happen:- You can hold a ceremony at your site.
- If you cannot attend the Conference, store and drop your School Chests at the appropriate time to a designated regional location.
- You deliver the School Chest to the Conference on March 22, 2001 and learn more about Service-Learning.
How is the chest assembled?
- Participants can determine the manner in which they assemble the School Chest. If a school is involved, participation can include one classroom or the entire school. Local chapters can pair together groups that do not want to take on a School Chest alone, by delegating what each group needs to purchase for the School Chest.
- The necessary items for the School Chest can be purchased and brought in by individual students, or a fundraising event can be organized to raise money to purchase the supplies. It is at the groups' discretion how to go about filling the School Chests.
- All the items on the list must be included to be considered a completed School Chest.
- Participants should be encouraged not to include extra items in the School Chests. The School Chests will be distributed among classrooms in needy schools and youth centers throughout the designated region, and it would not be fair if certain classes received School Chests containing extra items not listed on the School Chest Program publication (ARC 1488).
- Participants should adhere to the listed items as closely as possible, and try to keep items in one category consistent so distribution to the individual recipient is equal. Letters or books should not be included because of translation issues.
- School Chests should be inspected before shipping to Brethren Service Center (who has a storage agreement with American Red Cross), and any items not considered culturally sensitive should be removed.
School chest price list
(items may be significantly more expensive depending on store)
Item Price Note -------------------------- -------- ----------------------------- 40 Notebooks $ 40-80 spiral/comp, 70-120 pages 12 (10pk) Pencils $ 12-24 no.2 40 sm. pencil sharpeners $ 24 40 rulers $ 32-40 plastic/wood 20 compasses $ 24 6 boxes colored chalk $ 6 or huge chalk in bins: $3 4 blackboard erasers $ 8 4 pks drawing paper $ 8-36 recycled or nice paper 40 (8pk) crayons $ 40-60 1 tape measure (metric) $ 2-5 1 soccer ball $ 15-50* 20 jump ropes $ 60 1 plastic chest $ 9-20* w/locks to hold lid -------------------------- -------- ------------------------------ TOTAL $280-437