As an end-of-term trip, TGS went to give something back to the country that had given us so much. High up in the highlands of Ecuador, in a tiny province named Chimborazo, a Canadian charity NGO has set itself a goal. Its main goal is to free children from oppression. In the West, that means empowering children to take on the responsibility to change the world. However, in developing countries (such as India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ecuador) this means helping children out of slavery and oppression. Free The Children (FTC) is setting itself around a four pillared approach to ending poverty and slavery, in the most sustainable and least disruptive way to the communities possible.
Water
Every three seconds, a person dies because of lack of access to clean water. As well, most children will be sent from home, to the river, and back home again, usually about a 5 km journey in total. This means that they can’t go to school. So what if FTC starts putting wells nearby the schools themselves? That way, children would be able to go to school, learn, and then come back with water for the family.
Schools
What’s the point of feeding a population by giving them fish? That will only last them until the food runs out. Why not teaching the village how to fish? It will be a virtually never ending cycle of food. This is what FTC wants to do, educate children on how to sustain themselves after school.
Alternative income
One way that people like to argue against child slavery goes along these lines: “Well, yeah, but if you take away what the child is making in income, then the child’s family could go into poverty!” First off, children sold into slavery make less than 5 cents a day. If anything. So that point is invalid. Secondly, the conditions inflicted upon the children are awful; would you like to switch places with them? Third, and this is the good part: There is a solution. Instead of selling a child, one could buy a goat. Make their own milk, and make their own money.
Medical care
What’s the point of having dying and sick children everywhere? None. Through health care, these children have the opportunity to go to school and make a living.
So what exactly did we do there?
A branch of FTC (Me to We, which translates donation money into actions across the globe) goes into communities, talks to locals, and tries to build up a plan of how they could be most helped. Before we got to Chimborazo, it was decided they needed a new building. Their old ones were for primary students, and the primary students shoved all their stuff into the secondary students; building, overcrowding it and leading to dangerous accidents inside the classroom.
We got off the bus, eager, ready to help. We looked around – they gave us a tour. They showed us two decoration projects: some small stones they had put on a building to make it look nice, and a mural based on the topic of hygiene. VERY important for these children, who had no idea how to use a toilet or urinal.
They showed us the adobe brick-making machine where they pile dirt recently dug up from the ground into these metal pressers, and press and press it into bricks. They showed us where we were going to be building. Flat ground. Some white lines drawn onto the ground where they wanted the foundation to be built. They told us they wanted it 60cm on the sides and 150cm in the corners,
We went back home, “home” being where we ate, slept, and talked about the world, its problems, and possible solutions. We were the first group to bring kids from outside of the U.S. and Canada.
The real work started day two. This same schedule of working for 3-4 hours, going to eat lunch, and either working or having a workshop for 4-5 hours would repeat again. They gave us a beautiful welcoming ceremony into their community, with speeches and dancing.
The digging was hard. My partner and I managed to find the rootiest, rockiest area, and smashing our way through with hoes and pickaxes was amusing. By the end, our muscles were tired, and we were getting short of breath because of the high elevation.
One moment stood out to me that explained the entire trip:
The translator was crouched on the ground, translating from Spanish to English. All the primary children had chairs, and one child stood up, walked to the centre with her chair, and gave it to the translator, remaining standing until someone could find her a chair to sit on. She couldn’t have been more than 11 years old.
The people of the community were so selfless, so eager to help, and willing to be helped. The digging was tiring but rewarding, by the end of 3 days we had pretty much finished digging the entire foundation. The bricks were going good and strong, more than 100 bricks made. The mural was almost done at the end, and it was beautiful. The buildings were looking nice and rocky.
This was an amazing experience, at least for me. We gave up time that we could’ve been doing rafting or zip-lining, and hey, that might’ve been more fun.
The THINK Global School Leadership Team is delighted to announce the July 2022 launch of the THINK Learning Studio, a global innovation, consulting, and professional training center focused on interdisciplinary real-world learning. The launch of this initiative is a statement from both the Board and Leadership Team of TGS's commitment to spreading the methodology of the Changemakers® Program and our continued faith in the project-based learning format. The Studio team hopes...
Hi Amethyst, tell us a bit about yourself. I am a passionate educator with three years of experience, and I’ve just finished my first year with TGS. I specialize in the humanities, particularly history and writing. Before joining TGS, I completed a Master's degree where I researched contextual learning and focused on adolescent psychology during my undergraduate education. Outside of the educational space, I enjoy music, dancing, yoga, card games,...
Where and how do you learn? How do you develop a passion for curiosity? How do you keep your mind open to new people, ideas, and possibilities? These are all questions being faced by educators and students as our world gains a more global context. For a rare few who are lucky enough to have talented and equally curious teachers, this might happen in the confines of the classroom. But...
Hi Shasta, tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, my name is Shasta Gray, and this is my first year teaching at THINK Global School. I received my master's in teaching from the University of Alaska and have been teaching since 2012. I consider Alaska home, but I spent three years living and teaching in Thailand before joining TGS. I've always had an affinity for the great outdoors, and love...
Hi Andy, tell us a bit about yourself. I grew up in the beautiful industrial city of Birmingham, and after a career in mental health work and various bits and bobs, I qualified to become a teacher. After a few years in the UK, I moved to the British Virgin Islands (which many viewed as an improvement even on Birmingham!) and from there on to Switzerland, my first stint at...
After spending their first two terms of the 2021-22 school year in the United Arab Emirates, our CM2 students had the opportunity to travel to one of Mexico's most colorful states, Oaxaca, for Term Three. Renowned for its cultural, artistic, and culinary legacies, Oaxaca has become one of Mexico's most visited states for those looking to experience indigenous cultures. This focus on culture was a primary factor in our selecting...
Following terms in Botswana and Oaxaca, Mexico, our Changemaker Cohort 1 students had the opportunity to live and learn in a decidedly more cosmopolitan country for Term 3: The United Arab Emirates. Dubai, their host city and where they spent most of their time, holds the distinction of being the first Middle Eastern city recognized as a UNESCO City of Design. As part of this network, Dubai is committed to...
Hi Effie, can you tell us a bit about yourself? I was born in China during the one-child policy and adopted into a Finnish-English family. I spent a lot of my childhood traveling between South America and Europe before settling in Finland to complete my primary education. I have a particular interest in literature and studying cultures. However, nothing beats a good time with a few good friends having a...
At TGS, we approach education with an innovator's mindset, constantly exploring new ways to bolster our students' ability to wonder and learn. This approach is possible due to our unwavering commitment to our eight core values. These philosophies are drawn from countries across the world and inform every aspect of a TGS education. A key consideration to understanding core values at THINK Global School is our belief that they are not...
With the first term of the 2021-22 school year officially in the books, we asked our CM1 students to share their thoughts regarding their time in Botswana. You can find their reflections below and a comprehensive overview of our Botswana term here. Rite of Passage "So many things happened here in Botswana, and so many more things were learned from the people and the places around us. Personally, I was...
1. Hi Maxim. It's been two years now since you graduated from THINK Global School. What have you been up to in that time? Since graduating from TGS, I have been attending the University of Toronto studying mineral (mining) engineering. I know you might be asking why, out of all engineering, I chose mineral engineering? It's because I want to throw myself into the space mining industry. I figured it...
Another school year is coming to a close at THINK Global School, which means graduation is right around the corner for the Class of 2021. And while their academic experience was different than previous classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of our graduates continually demonstrated the characteristics we value so much as a community: perseverance, continual improvement, a thirst for knowledge, and the practicing of environmentalism, to name a...
Tattooing is the most misunderstood art form in Japan today. Looked down upon for centuries and rarely discussed in social circles, people with tattoos are outcasts in this country, banned from most public spaces such as beaches, bathhouses, and even gyms. Tattoos have an extensive history in Japan, and to truly understand the stigma behind them it is essential to be aware of their significance. The first records of tattoos...
With THINK Global School’s term in Bosnia and Herzegovina recently concluded, we thought we’d share a few interesting facts about the heart-shaped country with you. Whether you are working on a school project or planning a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina yourself, we hope you find these seven facts useful!! Fact #1) Sarajevo was the first city in Europe with a full-time electric tram Trams have a long history in...
Greetings TGS, Long time reader, first time blogger here. Some of you may have noticed that I can be a little patriotic... My friends in Abu Dhabi used to joke that New Zealand has "small country" syndrome because it is always determined to be the best. I think like the Canadians, we are determined not to be seen as the same as our more populated neighbours. With that in mind...
Ready to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime?
A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up.
Ready to embark on the educational journey of a lifetime?
A passion for travel. A strong academic record. And the desire to improve the world as you experience it. If this sounds like you, you just might be our ideal candidate! Start your application with a five-minute inquiry form - you never know where you might end up.
As an end-of-term trip, TGS went to give something back to the country that had given us so much. High up in the highlands of Ecuador, in a tiny province named Chimborazo, a Canadian charity NGO has set itself a goal. Its main goal is to free children from oppression. In the West, that means empowering children to take on the responsibility to change the world. However, in developing countries (such as India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ecuador) this means helping children out of slavery and oppression. Free The Children (FTC) is setting itself around a four pillared approach to ending poverty and slavery, in the most sustainable and least disruptive way to the communities possible.