HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE PT2

FTC Canada is deeply concerned that a lack of proper sleep for First Nation's children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are helping to implement such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the Mississauga, ON and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

Please consider a gift towards the building of 300 beds by 2012!  CLICK HERE!

FIRST NATION BUNK BED PROGRAM: REPORT FROM MISH

Reports from the community of Mishkeegogamang, ON (Mish) indicate that the first 50 beds are assembled and that by all accounts, “It's been a great experience.”

Karen Ward, FTC Canada First Nations Programs, reported that her team of young adults, most from the Mish Adventure Summer Program, have had a truly amazing time helping assemble beds and seeing the immediate impact it is having.

Parents are appreciative, perhaps overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift of bunk beds.  One young person commented, “Lots of people come up to Mish - but I've never seen anyone do anything like you are doing - giving us beds to make sure the kids have a place to sleep.” He said it's such a blessing for his people.

You can be a part of this work in the far North.  Your gift will go immediately to helping ensure children are not sleeping on a cold floor this winter. Click here to go to the Bunk Bed donation page or click the button below to make your donation immediately.

 

CHARACTER: HIGH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It used to be that the phrase, “a person of character”, inherently meant “good” character. As we look at more than a decade where our politicians, business leaders, sports stars and celebrities have drained the previous positive inference, out of the word character, a ray of hope is emerging ... from our high schools.

It is one thing to employ a tag-line or slogan that includes the idea of building character in our students of today, it is another to build and implement programs that both teach our children and put into practice the principles held forth.

Meadowvale High School and West Credit High School in Mississauga are achieving integrity in implementing such a vision, by partnering with several vendors in the city and with FTC Canada. Together we are building bunk beds to send to First Nations communities north of Sioux Lookout, where conditions for families are deficient.

According to the 2007 Child Health Summit, "Living conditions for First Nations people rank 63^rd in the world - comparable with developing countries - and one of the root causes of poor health in these communities."

A lack of proper sleep for children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try and address the problem of a serious shortage of adequate beds, FTC Canada has developed the First Nations Bunk Bed Program.  
 

This Christmas is the launch of a three-year program that FTC Canada has initiated with the support of major corporate partner, Vale.  The goal is to deliver at least 100 beds a year for three years to several First Nations communities.

“Our hope is to provide proper sleeping spaces for at least 600 children in these communities”, said FTC Canada’s First Nations Coordinator Karen Ward.

We have the support of many people, however, more beds need to be built, bedding and other supplies are still required and the product needs to be delivered to the Far North. We invite you to be a part of this vital project. 

Please CLICK HERE to help now!
  

FIRST NATION BUNK BED PROGRAM

After several months of planning, I am pleased to report the First Nation Bunk Bed Program is launching.  Here are some of the reasons why we have begun this good work.

Recent studies established that “living conditions for First Nations people rank 63^rd in the world - comparable with developing countries - and are the root causes of poor health.”   The Canadian Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has reported that “overcrowding, mould, and unsafe drinking water help spread communicable diseases at a rate 10 to 12 times higher than the national average. Over 40% of homes are considered inadequate shelter.”  Living conditions in First Nations communities in Canada are comparable to many lesser-developed countries.

Since 2005, FTC Canada has been supporting First Nations children and families in Northern Ontario through the distribution of food and supplies and operating a summer day camp. It is a natural progression to consider other ways to help children in the North. 

Sometimes, as many as twenty individuals will live in one home together, which obviously does not provide adequate sleeping accommodation. Family members must take turns sleeping in the few beds they have. Unfortunately, many of those lacking a bed at night are children; who are often found wandering around the reserve in the middle of the night. 

It is an established fact that a lack of proper sleep for children is detrimental to their development and health. Changes in sleeping habits can impair a child’s learning, memory and ability to concentrate. To try to address the problem of a serious shortage of beds we developed the First Nation Bunk Bed Program. This will go a long way to providing proper sleeping accommodation for many children living on First Nations reserves in Northern Ontario.

We are preparing to deliver 100 beds to two Northern Ontario reserves by the end of January 2011.  Volunteers have already offered to go to the reserves to assist in assembling the beds.

The communities are excited about getting the beds. One mother stated how wonderful it would be to have all her children sleeping at the same time, in the same place, at the proper hour of the day.  One Chief related how these beds will go a long way to help change the social dynamics of the community.

CLICK HERE to learn more about how to provide a bed to First Nation children.

Ken Dick, C.A.

President