Belcourt fifth-graders raise money to purchase animals for families in Tibet
By Andrea Johnson
BELCOURT – Fifth-graders at Turtle Mountain Community Elementary School have raised money by reading books to purchase yaks for needy families in Tibet.
Teacher Heidi Johnson said she watched an Oprah Winfrey show about a Little Rock, Ark., foundation called “Heifer International,” that purchases animals such as yaks or heifers or goats for families in impoverished countries.
Families that receive the animals are able to use the additional income they receive from selling milk or cheese or wool to send their children to school for the first time or to improve their homes. Families that receive the animals must promise to donate any offspring their animal has to another needy family, so the cycle of giving continues. The foundation provides animals that are suited to the climates of the different countries and the families must prove that they can adequately care for the animal and provide veterinary care.
Heifer Foundation has more than 400 projects ongoing in 75 different countries, according to its Web site (www.heifer.org)
“It feels great,” said fifth-grader Royce Poitra, who met his goal of reading 10 full-length books during the past four months. Fifth-grader Cassie Rolfing read 16 books during the four months, mostly her favorite adventure stories. Both children said it feels good to help others.
Johnson said three anonymous donors in Belcourt pledged $3,000 for the cause if the children met their goals of reading. The children asked for pledges from their families and friends and raised another $450. The school received a matching grant that will boost the fifth-graders’ total contribution to about $7,000, Johnson said. Johnson said one yak costs about $400.
Johnson said the project has provided valuable lessons for her students. Heifer International provided lesson plans about the countries they serve. Fifth-graders learned about life in Tibet and saw pictures of yaks. A yak is a stocky, long-haired wild ox of Tibet and central Asia, often domesticated as a beast of burden and used for milk and meat.
The fifth-graders also read a book about what the gift of a goat meant to a child named Beatrice and her family. Beatrice appeared on the Oprah show that Johnson watched, she said.
The children also watched a video provided by the Heifer Foundation about the effects of the program.
After watching the video, one of her students commented, “‘Boy, I’ve never seen anybody so excited to go to school,'” Johnson said. She said her fifth-graders were stunned that children in other countries don’t have the opportunity to go to school and to learn.
Every time they finished a book, a child would comment, “‘There goes another yak and somebody gets to go to school,'” said Johnson.
Johnson ensured that her students were reading and understanding the books by requiring them to give an oral book report and to pass an Accelerated Reader test on its contents. She approved all of the novels the children read beforehand. Each child had to read at least 10 full-length novels at fifth-grade reading level or above.
Johnson said she has a number of students in her class this year who enjoy reading for pleasure. Even so, they seem to enjoy reading even more now after the “Read to Feed” project. Kids asked her if they could have silent reading time, and they read far more in class during the project, she said.
Johnson said she hopes to hear how many yaks were purchased for Tibetan families and how the class donation has helped improve life for individual families. She plans to send the money to the foundation next week.
“It’s a program that I will definitely do year after year,” she said.
