RHS ‘does good’ both local and abroad

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Westwind Weekly

They’ll be singing for their supper – as well as a plane ticket and a roof over their heads when they embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

Seventeen Raymond High School (RHS) students in Grades 10 through 12 are hosting a benefit concert Thursday, March 6 to help raise funds for a working holiday in Ecuador this April.

The ‘RHS Does Good’ tour will see the students spend 11 days in Ecuador, which is located in northwestern South America, bordered by Columbia to the north and Peru to the east and south.

Although the group will tour the rainforest and a world heritage site in Quito, it’s not all about sightseeing. Six of those days will see them work alongside locals in a village in the Andes mountains to improve community infrastructure.

Along with the opportunity for volunteer work, teacher/organizer Cristy Duce says the students will benefit from the fundraising experience, basic Spanish lessons they are taking in advance, leadership opportunities and a good dose of cultural sensitivity.

One of her main goals in introducing this first-time trip was to open the students’ eyes to another world. Duce knows first hand the benefits of international travel.

“It opens up your mind and you really learn how to be empathetic,” she says. “It’s all about going somewhere and seeing people for what they really are, instead of being afraid of people different than us.”

The fundraiser will be held in the Raymond Junior High School gym and features acts from Raymond and surrounding communities. There will also be a silent auction of donated goods and services and a bake sale with refreshments. Tickets are $5 Adults, $3 students.

Organizers are also accepting donations with tax receipts available for donations of $100 and up. Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Duce at cristy.duce@westwind.ab.ca.

Suggested cutline for attached photograph: Students signed up for the ‘RHS Does Good’ tour of Ecuador this spring make signs for the March 6 benefit concert at the Raymond Junior High School Gym.

For more information on happenings within the Westwind School Division, go to our website at http://www.westwind.ab.ca or check us out on our social media network through Facebook at Westwind School Division No. 74 or on Twitter at Westwind Division 74.