End of Poverty

Sophia Nguyen
Fremont CA
William Hopkins Junior High School

Every year, over a million ton of food is wasted. Every day, the number of homeless people increases. Every second, a person starves from hunger or malnutrition. People who have homes to live in and enough food to put on the table are lucky and they should appreciate what they have. Many Americans’ homes have been foreclosed since they cannot afford to pay. Many people have lost their jobs. Our economy is failing. However, compared with other undeveloped country, such as Vietnam, our country is still in a better position. Indeed, our country not only needs to change in its economic, but also our ways of living by trying to save and reuse as much as we can from food, goods, and energy. To me, I try my best every day, to be able to contribute my abilities to help orphans and “street children”. I hope there will be a day when we can end all of the poverty on the world.

A busy, crowded market is where I was at Vietnam last summer. What I noticed was a large group of children around my age or younger selling various items such as peanuts, gum, and lottery tickets at a nearby gas station. These kids were called “street children” and they were draped with dirty, over used clothes as they walked with their bare foot in very hot and humid weather. Some children carried two baskets filled with items to sell on a wooden stick across their back. It seemed as if the children carrying the baskets would collapse because the baskets looked ten times bigger than the children’s size and weight. My mother explained that they needed to work to earn money to support their younger siblings or parents who might not be able to work. In Vietnam, life is tough for many people. Some people might work for a whole day, but barely puts a full meal on the table. I saw many children who were waiting in the front of small restaurants and some vendors that sold food on the streets. They were waiting to see if anyone who didn’t finish their meals and might leave a little bit of food in the bows or the plates. They would be jump over and fight with each other to see who could get the food left over first. They all got yelling and hitting from the owner’s restaurants. However, the children were still waiting around those places without leaving. To them, that was the only places where they could fill up their stomach with the unwanted food from other people. I couldn’t control the tears were rolling on my face.

“A one thousand Li journey begins with a single step,” and so does change. Being Asian American make me think and care deeply about those “street children”. I could not forget the hunger for food and basic needs in their innocent eyes. After I came back from my trip, I decided to make a website where people could donate things for orphans and “street children”. Donations could be used clothes, and school supplies because these items are needed. Even if the school supplied, or back-packs or shoes were used, they would still cherish them because it might be the first time that they had back-packs instead of carrying their books in ripping plastic bags, or it could be the first pair of shoes they ever got. To Vietnamese children, they think the United State is a heavenly place where children can get enough food, a house to live in and good education. We do not live like “street children”, so we don’t know the value of what we have and sometimes we don’t even appreciated it.

Every day and every second, many people on the world live in the poverty. However, some people in America are still throwing away uneaten food and goods frivolously and did not realize that they could use those wasted goods to help other people. Our economy is in a recession and of course, we need to change. If change doesn’t happen with one small step then change will never start at all. Only if we are determined to fix our economy we will be able to rise up again. Then we will be able to help other people to end the poverty. I hope with the money if I could win from this contest, I will be able to buy more school supplies, caps and shoes for the orphans and “street children”. I know I could not end the poverty right away, but at least, I could bring some smiles and some change in the lives of these unfortunate children in Vietnam today.

Student Engagement !!!

Tim Bedley, a veteran elementary school teacher, demonstrates a writing lesson where 4th and 5th graders critique each others writing assignments using an activity checklist. Observe how the students are engage in this amazing class activity. This video exemplifies the real definition of peer learning. My congratulations to Mr. Bedley!

Don't Worry Be Happy

by Aarushi Karandikar, 5th Grade
Santa Clara CA
Don Callejon School

If I could change just one thing about the world around me, I would change the way people feel about not having enough money. Let me explain, these days I hear and read a lot about the Recession in America. My neighbors, friends, and people on T.V. all sound worried, sad, and anxious. This is what I want to change.

I want to tell people that it is possible to be happy even in in these harsh times I know I am a kid and I can’t solve problems like people losing their jobs and homes. But, I can share my plan for finding more happiness in the little things which don’t need money.

Yes, I have a plan for happiness and the best part about it is that its absolutely FREE!! Reading books from the library is free (good for the mind), playing in the park with friends is free (good for the body), picnics with family are free (good for the soul), and the list of free things which make you happy can go on and on. I would also like to share tips on saving money during harsh times. For example, small birthday parties, keeping only a few gifts and regifting the rest, recycling, walking or biking whenever possible instead of using the car, wearing an extra sweater instead of switching on the heater, cozying up with family and popcorn to watch a DVD at home instead of going to the movies, etc. These tips are simple tings anyone can follow.

Being an Indian-American I know things here in America are not as bad as it gets in many developing nations. Many people in the world are poorer than people here will ever be. It’s just that inspite of being poor, they have learned to be happy. I see this whenever I visit India. This is better than having a lot toys and yet being unhappy because your neighbor has the latest Wii game and you don’t. Growing up with parents born and raised in India, I know how to count my blessing.

Leaving Wars Behind in the Shadow of the Past

Iris Chuck, 9th Grade
Sunnyvale CA
Wilcox High School

Amazing Kid Teacher and Writer

An amazing 11-year old child teacher and internationally published writer named Adora Lily Svitak of Washington State wows her audience with her lecture on US World History. Adora is the youngest educator in the world.

A Child Teacher

Adora Lily Svitak is an 11-year old child prodigy and internationally published writer, known for her essays, stories, poems, blogs, and full-length books. Adora first became known to the public when, at the age of 6, she was recognized on US local news for her writing abilities. She became an object of national interest at the age of 7 when she appeared with on Good Morning America^. Her book Flying Fingers describes Adora's abiding love of language and writing and contains tips and hints for other aspiring writers.In 2005, at the age of 7, Adora began writing blogs and keeping an online journal, where she comments on matters of both international significance and subjects of personal interest. Since Nov, 2005 Adora has been promoting literacy and interest in reading and writing. She has lectured before large audiences of both students and adults across the United States, and recently in Great Britain.

Making Educational Changes for a More Perfect World

Mary Xu, 12th Grade
San Francisco
Balboa High School

The world is a place filled with amazing people, places, and things. Yet it is also growing with social, economic, and political problems. Growing up Asian American, I feel like my experience in this world is different from other Asians around the world and even within the nation. I am a first generation Chinese living in America, with immigrant parents struggling to keep up a small business in the economic recession. There are many other Asian Americans like me who have immigrant parents, but the difference is that I grew up with different elements in my life which have influenced my individual thoughts about the larger world. If I were able to make the world a better place, I would make education (especially higher education) available to all people—not just children, but even adults who were never given the opportunity to read or write.

I grew up in a household where education is highly valued, as both of my grandparents were educators in China. They taught during the Cultural Revolution and were imprisoned for being “threats” to the government due to being capable in influencing students’ beliefs. For a year, my father and his three siblings had to take care of themselves while their education was also interrupted. The education in China during that time was rather limited. My father consistently placed at the top of his class every year in high school, but suddenly the Communist regime cut his path towards higher academic success short. He could not pursue his dream to major in Business in college because the Communist government mandated that a high school education was enough for him. It is because of these kinds of injustices that my parents decided to come to America and start a small restaurant which they have owned for over twenty years now. These injustices drive me to make education more available to everyone. It is upsetting and unbelievable that anyone would say that it is fair to confine an aspiring student to a limited education. Understanding the background my parents and grandparents come from is the greatest influence on my goal of implementing equal and functional educational systems worldwide.

Education is the foundation which propels an individual towards success. The definition of success is different for everyone, but I believe that learning in general is essential in helping one define success for oneself. There are countless areas in the world where literacy levels are very low—especially West African countries—and it hurts women the most due to gender disparities. As a woman myself, I do not think it is just to limit women from their own dreams, but cultural upbringing has a huge influence on gender roles. Even though my culture also reserves more rights to males, that only furthers my interest in advocating women’s educational rights. As I stated before, it is upsetting that some people believe that certain individuals deserve an education more than others. I believe it is my responsibility as a student to spread knowledge to other parts of the world with people who need it most.

Low literacy levels are associated with poverty and numerous social, economic, and political problems. Fixing this serious problem will open up many more options for children and adults who want to pursue their dreams. The most important thing in making the world a better place is making sure there is a unified happiness, which may seem unattainable, but it is not impossible. Even making a small change would be a step closer to achieving worldwide change. Change is an act that develops—it does not happen instantly. By being a part of buildOn, a non-profit organization with students dedicated to volunteering in the community, educating others about global issues, and sponsoring the construction of schools in developing countries, I am empowered to make changes in my community that affect the world as a whole. I have committed a lot of my time to cleaning up parks, sorting packages at food pantries, and serving those in need within San Francisco. In buildOn, I have helped raise money to build a school in Mali, West Africa. Slowly, but surely, I wish to instill hope in potential students that it is still possible for them to achieve their personal dreams.
As an Asian American woman, my experiences are important because they are the mechanisms that power my heart, mind and soul to bring educational justice in developing countries. Knowledge of my family’s educational background produced questioning about the accessibility of education in our world today. Being a part of an organization that provides insightful information about literacy levels in the world draws my attention to developing countries. I do not plan to fix unjust educational systems alone; successful change is developed by a collective community. The future ahead will be a bright one for everyone if we all work together to make the privilege of an education a universal human right.

Helping to Save our Earth

Mariah Nga Thi Orsulak , 2nd Grade
Oakland CA
Kaiser Elementary School

Angels in the form of Children!

The Capital Children's Choir is one of the world's leading children's choirs, and is based in London, UK. It was founded by the singer and composer Rachel Santesso. The choir is frequently seen performing alongside major artists from both the pop and classical music industry. It has also been invited to sing at St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican. The Choir has over 100 participants and is divided into 8 different groups, all of which record and perform regularly in London's most prestigious venues, and tour around the world. In this video, the choir interpreted "Chinese" in dedication to lyricist and artist Lily Allen. One of the best that I've heard in my lifetime! Behold them!

Clinton and Obama's Youth Symphony

The Green Valley High School Symphonic band from Henderson, Nevada is a popular and prestigious youth symphony orchestra hand picked by two US Presidents in their inauguration parades. The group performed in President William Jefferson Clinton's inauguration in 1993 as well as the 2009 Inaugural Parade of President Barack Obama. In this film clip, they are playing Elegy by Elliot Carter.

Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, Or Do Without!

Richa Wadekar, 7th Grade
San Jose CA
Challenger School Shawnee

When I think of my visits to India, I usually think of the roadside markets, or baajaars, as they are called in my language. I see rows of vegetable stands with vendors hawking their produce. I see people carrying their cloth bags to the stalls and filling them up with the freshly picked fruits and vegetables. However, the last time I visited, there were some differences to this marketplace scene. The street vendors were whipping out plastic bags for their customers to use. Even as I stood there flinching at the prodigality, bag after bag was filled with vegetables. What a horrific waste, I thought. Then I caught myself—how was this any different than the vast quantities of plastic bags used at our own grocery stores in America?

We, as Americans, enjoy many luxuries. We have lots of materialistic comforts, nearly all of them factory-produced products. Many of us regularly use disposable products: use once and then throw away! It is much more convenient and requires less effort to use. On the flip side, we generate the most waste in the world. I can’t imagine then, the amount of waste that could be produced by densely populated Asian countries, in their efforts to adapt “Western” culture to get “modern” lifestyle!

India’s population is 1,144,940,000. That’s more than three and a half times the population of America! And America alone produces close to 250 million tons of municipal waste a year. That multiplied by three and a half gives a number that has me reaching for tissues!

I know that Indian culture was originally not wasteful. So, people would take their own bags to the market. People ate with silverware, not disposable cutlery. However, now, Indians are changing the way they do things, in order to get more of the conveniences that are incorporated into the “Western” culture. In fact, American culture also used to be very frugal. There was a saying— “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!” But now, we have a much faster pace of life than there was then.

I think that India has not plunged so deeply into the disposable, non-decomposable plastic product fad that they cannot get out. It is still developing, and can be influenced to a less wasteful path. I don’t think that India should not get the same luxuries as the developed countries. India has her own customs, deeply ingrained into the culture, which considers wastefulness a sin!

I think that it would be easier for her citizens than for us to have a more green approach toward getting those luxuries. I want to change the mentality of Indians so that they won’t even start the path of not green, materialistic lifestyles.

I have an idea that will help get this mentality into the minds of my fellow Asians. I think that we should create a volunteer organization to educate Asian countries about green ways to live. The citizens themselves should be aware of the fact that what they do can have a huge impact on the world. The volunteer organization could hold lectures, set up tree planting gatherings, and start an advertising campaign. The lectures would be geared to schoolchildren, to catch them young and thus secure the future!

Advertisements could also play a big role in teaching everyone green lifestyles. Advertisements could demonstrate to people as well as businesses that they could use green methods of working without emptying their wallets. As an Asian American, I feel responsible for ensuring that my home continent is not the major cause of cause of a global environmental crisis.

I can contribute by providing information about recycling techniques employed in America. Information which conveys that going green does not mean inefficient or expensive. The organization should promote ideas from digitalizing data to using your own bags, and should stress that reduce, reuse, and recycle is the way to go!

The next time I go to India, I hope that the baajaars will again have changed—but this time in a good way. I hope that people will be taking their own bags (made from jute, a renewable substance) to buy produce that is, of course, organic. I want to see a new gleam in their eyes – a gleam that that says, “I am doing the right thing for the planet.” Perhaps they will have realized that there is a happy medium: we can have both a convenient and green way to live. I hope they will have realized that this will be progress – that by taking this step, they will be taking a step into a more modern, better lifestyle.

Education for Everyone

Jennifer Gao
San Jose CA
Discovery Charter School

Global Warming: A Problem Today

Sonia Sachar , 5th Grade
Fremont CA
Weibel Elementary School

Many people in our world think we can’t help global warming. However, they are outright wrong. There are so many simple things that we humans can do, working together, to reduce global warming. In each and every state, in each and every country, and in each of every continent, we the people can make a difference and protect our planet.

I, as an Indian American kid, can walk, or ride my bike rather than have my parents drive me to school. If every kid in my neighborhood could make an effort to do this, it would immensely reduce carbon emissions. Another way to reduce these deadly emissions would be to carpool with neighbors to drive to school and work. To support clean ways of transportation, my friends and I have launched The Green Squad. The Green Squad is a local group whose members are 70 percent Asian Americans. We tell and educate other kids on how to safely bike ride, as well as educate the parents about benefits and simplicity of carpooling and in buying fuel-efficient cars.

The biggest cause of global warming is the burning of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gas) to produce energy such as electricity. At home we can do many simple things to save energy. We can replace our most used incandescent light bulbs with the fluorescent bulbs, which use less energy. If everyone avoids 15 miles of driving a week, it will reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide by about 900 pounds a year. By just shutting down your computer every night not only saves electricity, but also 100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. The most significant action we can do is to replace our appliances with more new efficient ones and recycling everything made of plastic.

Businesses can become green businesses. In Fremont, Sam’s Best Food Market stands out as the green store, Mr. Singh, an Asian American, owns this store. He agreed to install energy efficient light bulbs in his store, and commits to recycling; as a result it has won tremendous support in our green community. Our green squads, educates people to shop at such minority owned business. which embrace such practices and become role models for other businesses. These undemanding actions require no major change or investment; just to simply change our habits in favor of a cleaner planet. In a bad economy, it helps support local businesses, in fact help us save money now and in the future.

America is one proud country because it has eighteen states that have made a commitment of having different ways of making clean energy. These states have invested in solar energy, waterpower, and wind power. If we keep up the work and add more states we could have 20 percent and more of our electricity from clean sources by 2020. Every nation can help stop global warming for the whole world. Americans should be the new role models in the world, as we are already one of the largest consumers of fossil fuels.

When I go to my home country India and visit the major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, there is so much pollution from carbon emissions that one can feel the air pollution with every breath they take. Asian cities are over populated and as a result, face even greater problems. There are severe traffic congestion and no control on how many cars can be on the road. There is very little that the government is doing by banning the unclean carbon vehicles and other machines. I provide all the information about global warming to my peers in India and ask them to start taking actions.

America has advantage of having smarter green technology, and we can offer these smarter technologies to populated countries such as India and China. They can use solar energy and green technologies in factories, and preserve their national forests and natural resources. In poor countries, wood chopping is the fastest way of solving immediate survival needs. However, by chopping trees, they are reducing the number of plants that can absorb the carbon dioxide.

We the kids are going to inherit the planet and its problems. We, as neighborhood green squads, need to put forth our priorities for the health of our planet. We need to challenge the city, state governments, and adults to modify their behavior and habits. They have enjoyed the beauty of our planet, we would also like to see the white snow on our Mountain peaks, pristine water in our rivers, and the diverse species of this planet. As an ancient proverb goes- Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your own children.

The Next Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Babe Ruth

A grade school boy shoots a basketball, plays golf, and plays a baseball game as seen in this incredible homemade film clip taken by his dad.

2-year old Geography Expert

A toddler shows his amazing geography prowess in the popular Regis and Kelly program. Two-year old Aiden from New Jersey stunned host Kelly Ripa by identifying accurately numerous puzzles of countries and its state capitals.

Blind Korean Child - A Piano Genius

In South Korea, A blind five-year-old pianist has stunned the world after a video of her performance received more than 27 million hits last year.

Yoo Ye-eun, who was born blind and adopted in 2002, has never had a formal piano lesson but can play any song after just one listen.

And now her remarkable talent is set to propel her to stardom as clips of her amazing performance have attracted millions of viewers to Korean website Pandora TV. A similar clip on YouTube has so far received two million hits.

Her display on 'Star King', a Korean talent show, earned the youngster £500 in prize money and moved the studio audience to tears.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/13/blind-piano-prodigy-from_n_112387.html

Kids and their future professions

Professions in Europe, a project initiated and developed by "Gheorghe Titeica" High School of Romania in collaboration with various high schools from Germany, Poland and Italy integrated an activity that will make European students think seriously about the professions they are to choose in the near future.

According to the participants, the activity inspires them to plan ahead and think about a career that fits them. "Although I was a student in the 11th grade I had never thought seriously about the profession I was going to choose and I must say that when I filled in the application form I realized that I must decide on my future. So I admit that this project gave me the opportunity to explore options and decide on a profession," a participant said.

To inspire the students, activities involving top rank professionals from various industries and fields in Europe were invited to speak and mingle with the students.

Chemical Identity Masks

In a Humanities Class in Chula Vista, California, students created two-sided identity masks as representations of their individual personalities. One side they represented their personal identity, as it has been formed through their socialization by family, friends, and the media. On the other side they represented a chemical element that they felt best symbolized their personality.

This was our first project of the year. It was a great way to create a positive culture in our classroom, while introducing students to the basic principles of sociology and chemistry. It takes a certain amount of trust to breathe through a straw and allow someone else to completely cover your face with wet plaster for 15 minutes or so. The students bought in to the process and had a great time. It also was a great way to build a culture of critique and refinement, as students worked through multiple drafts to get to their final product. In the end, there was a wide range in the quality of the masks. In reading the student reflections, many students with less developed masks mentioned that they wished they used their class time better. We modeled and did several critiques, but because creating the masks was such an involved process, many students had trouble revising concepts once they had begun. When I teach this project again, I will make sure that students take the process of generating ideas and drafting their masks as seriously as making the masks. Then they will have a clearer vision before they begin designing and painting. —John Fisher, Humanities, High Tech High, Chula Vista CA

Change in Me

by Jalena Keane Lee, 8th Grade
Berkeley CA
Julia Morgan School for Girls

“Aren’t you exited for the dance tonight?” “I can’t go. My mom is kidnapping me to Reno, for the last weekend to register voters.”

My 80 year-old grandmother, cousin, mom and I embarked on a six-hour journey. During the drive, I daydreamed about the dance and what I would be missing that night. When we arrived at the Obama Nevada Headquarters, we were bombarded by a packed parking lot, a huge grey warehouse with a line of people waiting to sign in and receive canvassing packets. The smell of coffee and doughnuts filled the air.

After we signed in, we found seats and waited for the presentation. As I sat there boredom enveloped me. Looking around I saw peace posters and bicycles hanging from the walls, when suddenly I noticed hundreds of people had come into the room, larger than the 300 anticipated. Streaming into the warehouse were 1,000 eager campaign volunteers of all ages filled with excitement.

Standing in front of a large screen, the coordinator, a 26-year-old Caucasian man, with wire-rimmed glasses, and bushy facial hair, introduced himself, described the day and issued a challenge: Register 1,000 voters today – win Nevada for Obama, and he would shave off all his facial hair. People laughed and applauded.

We made arrangements for Grandma to stay at the headquarters to avoid all the walking and we set out to canvass. As we left, I looked back to see my grandmother standing in the middle of the crowd looking forlorn. She wanted to go with us and didn’t feel like she would be of any use at the headquarters.

Off we went into unknown neighborhoods, at first it was intimidating to knock on stranger’s doors, but I got the hang of it. House after house, we were greeted by Caucasian families, very different from my multicultural upbringing in Berkeley. It felt good to know that perhaps my mom and I were breaking the shy Asian stereotype for those people. We knocked on hundreds of doors, registered two new voters, and arrived back at the headquarters, exhausted.

During the time that we were gone, my Grandmother had organized a potluck for the 1,000 volunteers and everyone was asking her for directions. Our large family throws gatherings at least once a month so everyone knows how to cook, prepare food, prep a space, and organize a huge party. When the coordinator was making his final speech he singled out my Grandma to thank her. Then the staff asked us if we could bring her back every weekend!

The purpose of the event was to create community, let the volunteers have some fun and share inspirational and funny stories. One story stood out to me. The coordinator said, “Come share your story if this is the first time you’ve been involved in a political campaign.” Most people were expecting a teen, but instead a 50-year-old father went on the stage and said, “I never strongly believed in politics, but when I saw how much Obama inspired my son, I knew who I would be voting for. My son is the one who arranged this whole trip, and signed us both up. I am so proud of him, and when I remember back to when I was his age, I wish that I could be as driven and responsible as he is.” Every word conveyed how much he loved and admired his son. After he left the stage, the two embraced in a warm hug, and the dad whispered into his son’s ear “I hope I didn’t embarrass you up there” and the son responded with tears in his eyes “You did great Dad.”

During the party there were a number of people sitting in the back room, typing up all the data that we had collected that day. Towards the end of the event the coordinator announced that not only had we matched the number of register voters, we topped it. All of us together had registered 1,200 people so the coordinator would be shaving. There were cheers, hugs and laughter all around.

This was the turning point in my trip; this was the change in me. I realized what a difference I was making and how important it was for me to be there. I registered two voters, I watched my Grandma, at 80 still ready to change the world, and I experienced a fantastic party filled with hope. I saw how much of a difference I could make. My sense of self and priorities had grown from my small school, to the broader world. By opening my mind I had a good time, and learned that I can change how I feel, just by letting go of judgment and experiencing the moment.