Students on the Mayor Students Advisory Council have taken on the challenge of a kickoff awareness event for the Waterloo Region. This will be a night of entertainment focusing local talent and featuring speakers, Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik, Mayor Halloran and a representative of Dignitas Youth. It will be held on March 25th at 7:00pm at Waterloo Collegiate. Admission to the event is five dollars which includes a bracelet!!

On Thursday February 4th there will be a volunteer fair showcased at Queensmount Senior Public School. Queensmount has set up a committee to aid students in their transition from elementary to high school. They have set up a volunteer fair to help students find ways to fulfill their community service requirement for high school graduation. “It is the goal of our transition committee to equip our students with the information, tools and world view about the short and long term personal and societal benefits of volunteerism”. The event will begin with a keynote address from Dr. Anne-Marie and will be followed by the volunteer showcase. As a part of this SRI will be at the fair to help teach students how to get involved with campaigns such as BOH.

Congratulations to all the schools that have been doing a great job with events this month.

This World AIDS Day, December 1st, Trent U held a movie-screening for the Tsepong Clinic documentary and raised over $400! As well, a speaking engagement featuring Anne-Marie was held at the Schulich School of Medicine at UWO, attracting many students and spreading the word about how Canadians are making an effort to end HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.

On December 3rd, Victoria College of the University of Toronto held a charity open mic night, “Mike the Change” that featured incredible student talent while raising over $1000 to support an end to HIV/AIDS.

Bishop MacDonell HS in Guelph held an incredible Dance-A-Thon for the cause on December 4th, promoting the Bracelet of Hope and student activism.

December 8 marked the last of Box of Hope events for this year, as Anne-Marie spoke at Sacred Heart School in Guelph. Going out with a bang, they were able to raise approximately $1200!

Bishop MacDonell High School located on 200 Clair St. West in Guelph will be hosting their annual dance-a-thon this Friday December 4th in order to raise funds for Masai for Africa/Bracelet of Hope. This 12 hour event has proven to be a great success in the past and we are hoping for an even better turn out this year as the event will be run from 1pm-1am as opposed to starting much later as it has done in previous years. Come on out to support these dedicated dance-a-thoners this Friday!!

The Gathering of Hope run by Reach Lesotho students this past weekend (Saturday November 28th) was a huge success. The students delivered a fantastic night which showcased amazing talents and a silent auction. The funds raised from the event will be donated to OHAfrica and Bracelet of Hope and the students were able to raise a whopping $7,300!! Great work guys!!

On Saturday November 28th students from SRI’s Reach Lesotho program will be hosting an event at John F. Ross C.V.I. in Guelph. This event will be run by a group of 24 students as a culmination to their leadership training and will consist of a talent performance and silent auction. Proceeds will be donated to OHAfrica and Bracelet of Hope.

In one week, Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School in Waterloo has been able to sell nearly 400 bracelets! Congratulations SJAM!

Furthermore, they will be holding a coin drive in support of Bracelet of Hope October 27-29.

For more information or to get involved, contact Melissa at melissa_roe@wrdsb.on.ca.

A year ago this past spring, Bracelet of Hope had a new supporter get inspired and organize a fundraiser in his church that raised over $10,000. A head shaving event that is now refered to affectionately as “The Big Shave”. His name is Wes Burrows.

In the fall of 2008, Wes traveled with a group to visit both the South Africa women’s craft cooperative where the Bracelet of Hope is made and to the Tsepong Clinic in Lesotho, which is where the money raised by our campaign goes to provide support.

Inspired, this past June Wes organized a repeat event, with different heads, and raised another $10,000! In an email to SRI, Wes said that “It’s never too late to start making a difference – all you need is a cause to be passionate about and the courage to start.”

Wes was entered in a contest put on by Red Rose Tea that recognizes the achievements of Canadians who “Reach Out” to support a need locally, regionally, nationally or internationally. If you would like to support Wes in this contest, please click here. On the website, search “Burrows” and his story will pop up. Students of any age can support Wes simply by submitting their vote with a valid email.

On October 16th, 2009, Mayor Halloran and Abid Virani will team up for a presentation at SJAM Secondary School in the Waterloo Region. Mayor Halloran and Abid Virani will speak about their experiences in Lesotho during the summer of 2009, where both of them spent time in the district of Hlotse.

This marks the first partnered event between the Waterloo Region, which has launched a $2.5 million goal for Bracelet of Hope, and Student Reach International, which has launched a $25 million goal across Canada from students using the Box of Hope.

On October 16th, students are encouraged to sport their red and white beaded bracelets and/or purchase one for $5!

Tonight, Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik spoke for the first time to students since returning from her 2009 trip to Lesotho. At the launch of Student Reach International’s Reach Lesotho program, Dr. Zajdlik shared her personal account of witnessing the progress being made in Lesotho. She told approximately 140 people about the impact $1 million has had and how students certainly have the ability to raise $25 million across Canada. Dr. Zajdlik passionately explained that if students raise $25 million, they would be inspiring both generations before them and generations in the future.

The launch event took place at the University of Guelph, where the Bracelet of Hope Campaign originated when a group of students decided to join Dr. Zajdlik’s initiative.