Families for Families
Emergency Haiti Earthquake Relief
Donations for Haiti earthquake relief can be made in person or by mail at The Greenwoods Academy, 1056 Klondike Rd, Kanata, K2K 1X7 To donate using PayPal or your credit card please click the "Donate" button below.School Garage Sale in Support of Families for Families
The Greenwoods Academy and Families for Families extend their thanks and appreciation for the support we received from the community during our school garage sale! Total proceeds for Families for Families were approximately $1300.00 - a very nice sum that will go directly to providing shelter helping displaced people in the world. View our Families for Families Information Flyer
View our Families for Families video on YouTube
View the Families for Families workshop presentation given by Sharleen McCorrister at the 2010 AMS conference in Boston
View the Peace Education and Global Awareness in the Montessori Casa Classroom Presentation by Sharleen McCorrister, Head of School. Presented in China 2010.
Families for Families is a non-profit campaign raising funds and awareness
for displaced peopled around the world. Based on the premise that “the world is a village” and that we are a global family,
the children of The Greenwoods Academy came up with the idea of families helping families.
This campaign began in late January 2009 with an opening event covered by the media, where members of the community and
local government representatives, past and present, were on hand to lend support to our cause.
The Greenwoods Academy has partnered with
HousAll Systems and an international NGO,
Partners In Health. Currently,
the campaign is committed to sending prefabricated shelters to the people of Haiti, whose communities have been destroyed
by a massive 7.0 earthquake, recent hurricanes and the ongoing fight against poverty. Our goal is to send 70
family units to Haiti .
These units designed by HousAll Systems can serve as temporary shelters for up to 10 years. They are structurally sound,
spacious, and promote a clean, healthy living environment. These shelters are easily constructed which require a minimal
amount of maintenance and provide both a safe and dignified home for families.
Reports from Haiti indicate that the HousAll units currently used for schools and shelter survived the earthquake
In most Montessori(s) and other schools there is a curriculum of peace education that encourages children to find ways of
bringing peace to their schools, homes, communities, and the world. It starts with a thought, becomes a word then manifests
into a deed. The children become aware of their responsibility to take care of the Earth, other people and themselves.
Upon becoming aware of the gross inequalities of life, and the desperate state of sub-standard living the children at
The Greenwoods Academy responded compassionately. Through their fund raising efforts the children realize that they can make a
difference for others less fortunate.
The children at The Greenwoods Academy are raising much needed funds through various
fundraising activities. Their initial
project of creating and selling “Fairies of Hope” have raised over $800.00 and garnered much excitement in the media.
Two local newspapers have carried their story as well as a television interview with CJOH TV. A video about Families for
Families will also be appearing on U-Tube shortly. The children are busy with their next project, creating a quilt which
will be auctioned off, all proceeds going towards the Families for Families campaign.
fundraising activities. Their initial
project of creating and selling “Fairies of Hope” have raised over $800.00 and garnered much excitement in the media.
Two local newspapers have carried their story as well as a television interview with CJOH TV. A video about Families for
Families will also be appearing on U-Tube shortly. The children are busy with their next project, creating a quilt which
will be auctioned off, all proceeds going towards the Families for Families campaign.
We have encouraged other Montessori and private schools to join this campaign and have successfully recruited 7 local schools.
We are seeking corporate sponsorship to help broaden the campaign to include other industries in the community in order to expand
to a national and international level. We have the interest of the Governor General of Canada, Michaelle Jean, the former
mayor of Ottawa, Bob Chirelli and the Haitian community of Ottawa.
Sponsorship can occur in many different forms. Families for Families wants to work with companies to create a mutually beneficial
association. Reciprocity is an inherent part of giving. Even a child experiences that warm sense of purpose after helping another.
With your support you become a part of our family helping other families.
