Abbotsford Sylvan Learning, together with 10 other Sylvan locations in B.C., has raised $10,000 to support Free the Children’s Brick by Brick: Schoolbuilding Campaign.
Thanks to the generosity of Sylvan students, families and staff, the company has contributed a total of $76,000 since first participating in the campaign in 2008.
Brick by Brick funds the creation of classrooms in countries where children would not otherwise receive an education.
From Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, students purchased “bricks” to build a school from the ground up, either by donating tokens earned for their achievements in tutoring programs, or through a cash donation.
The average cost to build a school in the countries where Free the Children works is $8,500.
The funds raised by Sylvan this year will help build schools in the Massai Mara region of Kenya.
Sylvan Learning is now raising funds for another Free the Children campaign, We Create Change.
Until Dec. 20, participating Sylvan locations are collecting pennies as part of Canada’s largest penny drive.
The goal is to collect enough pennies to provide clean water to 100,000 people for life.
A collection of 2,500 pennies – or just $25 – provides a permanent source of clean water for one person.