Oprah’s Angel Network

Located in western Manitoba near the Saskatchewan border, Russell is a rural Canadian community where the nearest major urban center is more than three hours away. Because of this distance, students at the local Major Pratt School often miss out on opportunities like field trips to museums, concerts and plays—and this is exactly the reason why Club educator Tracy Wilson decided to apply for the O Ambassadors program. She notes, “By participating in the O Ambassadors program, students have a chance to do something besides basic classroom work and not miss out on opportunities that urban centers have.”

O Ambassadors at Major Pratt School volunteer their time at a Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life event.

© 2008 Oprah's Angel Network

Global and Local Opportunities

Doing more than just learning about world issues, the O Ambassadors at Major Pratt are taking actions that make a difference. In honor of World Water Day, the Club decided to raise awareness about the need for clean water in the developing world. Club members made an announcement to all students at the school, challenging them to go without drinking water for most of the school day. The exercise gave students firsthand exposure to the importance of clean drinking water, and a glimpse into what life is like for their peers in developing countries. On the day of the event, donation boxes were set up in the school and many students were moved to give “loonies” ($1 Canadian coins) to support the Club’s fundraising efforts.

Supporting an issue a little closer to home, the O Ambassadors recently volunteered at a local Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life event. Club members spent time preparing luminary bags that helped light the way for walkers.

Connecting to Current Events

This year at Major Pratt, the O Ambassadors program is integrated into the 7th grade curriculum. In grade 7 at Major Pratt, students start studying topics like geography and human development more in depth, making the O Ambassadors program an ideal complement to the existing curriculum. The world region that the Club is focusing on is South Asia, and Ms. Wilson notes that while she’s always incorporated current events into her curriculum, the issues have resonated more with her students this year because of the program. “The students have more of a connection to where things are in the world,” she says.

Helping that connection along is Ms. Wilson’s personal ties to the region. Ms. Wilson has a close friend in the military who is stationed in the Middle East. The combination of learning about the region through the O Ambassadors materials as well as hearing personal accounts, Ms. Wilson notes that the students have realized how fortunate they are to be living in a safe environment, and that even though there may be challenges to living in a rural community, situations are always relative.