A SCHOOL FOR IQBAL

1. Scholastic, Inc. Summer Reading Project on Child Labor

Scholastic magazines are frequently found in classrooms all across America and Canada. However, it is now summer vacation and many classrooms are closed down and empty. Scholastic has thought up a way to keep minds open this summer. We are very proud to announce that Scholastic, Inc. has made a huge effort to educate its readers about child labor. You can find the Scholastic "Summer Reading on Child Labor" on their web site. Go to :

http://teacher.scholastic.com/newszone/specialreports/labor/help.htm

This is not the only page. It is the page that describes our "School for Iqbal" project and other options for actions against child labor. Clicking on other related Scholastic pages will bring you to tons of information about the problem and hopefully the solution.

2. Global Action for Students ... One Country at a Time

If you would like to learn about a U.S. school project that attacks poverty in developing countries while providing education for poor, working children, then you must go to this site :

http://odw.info.usaid.gov/

The project is called "Operation Day's Work-USA." It is free. Any school can join. So far, there are 28 schools in 14 states involved. The project is about to begin its fourth year and is sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Students involved make all the decisions, such as ... which country to help ? which educational project would help kids in that country the most ? how to fund that project after kids choose it ? what are the rules of "Operation Day's Work-USA" ?

This is not charity. It is kids helping kids to help themselves.

So far, students have voted in 1999 to help children in Haiti. They raised $31,000 and funded for 5 years a literacy and livestock program for 2,000 Haitian youth in NW rural Haiti.

In 2000, students voted to help children in El Salvador. They raised $43,000 and funded the doubling of an orphanage for orphaned, child victims of war in El Salvador.

In 2001, inspired by Minnesota activist and author Dr. David Parker, they voted to help children, especially girls, in Nepal. The educational project chosen involves 351 free scholarships to poor children in Nepal. 207 scholarships go to girls. So far, the schools involved have raised $26,000 but more is coming in.

In 2002, students involved will choose ... ? Get involved and help us decide. Go to http://odw.info.usaid.gov/ and join Operation Day's Work-USA if you attend a U.S. school.

If you live in Norway, join ODW-Norway. Operation Day's Work started in Sweden years ago, spread to Norway where it raises millions, and now has spread to the U.S.