Positions and placements available for committed volunteers

Do you like to plan and coordinate events or, how about write and edit articles? Have you always wanted to get more involved with social change, or the activities of a non-profit organization? Maybe you need to fulfill a co-op placement or commit to completing community service hours. If you're dedicated, organized and motivated we'd be excited to see you apply!

ACCESS is offering non-paid volunteer positions for those looking to get involved on a committed, short-term, part-time level. Community Service Hours will be provided, and co-op placement for academic credit will be evaluated. The following roles are managed under corresponding ACCESS Executive Members. The term begins in November 2009 and will be complete by June 2010 at the latest.

To apply to these positions, please email volunteer@accesscharity.ca with the subject line "Volunteer Position Application" including your Resume, availability, and approximately 250 words describing yourself and your interest in ACCESS. These positions will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, with an announcement of the filled positions being added to the end of this original post at news.accesscharity.ca.

The following positions are currently available:

Youth Making a Difference Workshop Outreach Rep
For the Youth Making a Difference Workshop, Duties include contacting potential event sponsors and local businesses to request and make arrangements for funds and prizes, researching details on catering and food contributions or pricing, contacting schools and distributing posters for the event. Requires regular, consistent email access and strong communication skills. This position requires direct contact with the ACCESS Events Coordinator for tasks and updates.

Speak Up for Change Junior Editor
For the Speak Up for Change Blog, duties include contacting writers to inform of new topics or changes in scheduling, replying to writer emails and/or external organizations (upon request only), searching for new and relevant content on the web to feature on Speak Up for Change, and seeking out potential writers and youth to sign up as contributors to the blog. Occasionally may be asked to seek out sponsors and/or grants to apply for. Requires frequent, consistent email and Internet access. Excellent communication and writing skills are necessary. This position requires direct contact with the Speak Up for Change Editor, for tasks and updates.

Arts for Change Talent Show Assistant Coordinator
Duties include contacting potential businesses and organizations to seek sponsorship or involvement in the Arts for Change Talent Show, distributing posters to schools or community centers, seeking out and contacting performers for auditions and rehearsals. Requires consistent email access and clear communication skills. This position requires direct contact with the ACCESS Events Coordinator for regular tasks and updates.

Please share this with others you know that may be interested in these positions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email volunteer@accesscharity.ca. We look forward to reviewing all applicants!

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ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. For more information and resources, please visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Raising funds on campus: Universities getting involved

As a youth-run organization, ACCESS encourages schools and youth organizations to get involved in raising awareness and raising funds for education projects in the developing world.

While offering Educational Presentations and Educator Resources to elementary and secondary schools, ACCESS also works to raise funds and increase involvement in the post-secondary level. Events from two Ontario university campuses are highlighted below, recognizing their efforts and encouraging future involvement from schools.

Events at Laurier University raise funds and awareness

In the fall semester of 08-09, Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario hosted two events in support of ACCESS.

Drawing much excitement from students was the Throw Whip Cream at Your Profs event. On another day, there was a Starbucks Coffee Sale on campus, with all proceeds benefiting ACCESS. The funds raised have been donated directly towards ACCESS projects in the developing world.

These fundraisers were organized by XLerate Business Club, a student-driven organization focused on developing key skills that are critical for success both in university and the business world. It is Laurier's largest student organization, providing resources such as seminars and leadership opportunities.

University students raise funds in Toronto residence

The Residence Council at 89 Chestnut Residence, which houses University of Toronto and OCAD students among others, fundraised for ACCESS in the in the 08-09 academic year.

The funds were raised through a Floor Competition, with residents on 24 floors competing by donating coins into jars assigned to each floor. As per the competition's rules, paper bills deducted points when placed in another floor's jar - as an incentive to donate more. Details were posted online here.

The Residence Council also dedicated an additional fundraising event to ACCESS. For Valentine's Day, Candy Grams were sold and delivered to students within the residence in February 2009.

Looking for ways to fundraise for ACCESS this year?
Visit this year's school campaign at accesscharity.ca/phanuel

ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. For more information and resources, please visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Media Inquiries: Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Thousands of school supplies collected and sent to Africa

This year's end-of-summer ACCESS School Supply Drive was a tremendous success. Two weekends in August were dedicated to receiving donations of school supplies and collecting funds from local donors.

Over $1,700 was raised for the youth-run ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc throughout this year's drive.

Donations are benefiting school children in developing countries, this year including Tanzania, Africa. ACCESS has delivered the supplies to Canadian Food for Children in Toronto to be shipped and distributed.

As students in many privileged nations begin school this week, children in Tanzania will now be able to learn with the supplies they need to succeed.

Fair Trade products such as chocolate and sugar were also sold at the event to raise funds and awareness of sustainable employment and development projects.

ACCESS would like to extend thanks to all donors as well as St. Marguerite d'Youville and St. Anthony's Churches in Brampton, Ontario for their hospitality.

View the photo slideshow below or see the online gallery here.



Details on the School Supply Drive event can be found at accesscharity.ca/schoolsupplydrive.

ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. For more information and resources, please visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Media Inquiries: Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Bring Change: ACCESS announces fourth annual School Supply Drive

Beginning on August 22, 2009 ACCESS will be holding its annual School Supply Drive, benefiting students in developing countries. This is the youth-run non-profit organization’s fourth year hosting the drive, which promotes local activism and supports education internationally. Drop-off locations include St. Marguerite d’Youville Church and St. Anthony’s Church in Brampton.

All donations will benefit school children in developing countries including Tanzania, Africa. Canadian Food for Children, founded by Dr. Andrew Simone, will be shipping and distributing the supplies. All monetary donations will directly support ACCESS education projects in Tanzania, Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

Previous drives have been highly successful, with a multitude of donations received in both monetary donations and new school supplies. Acceptable items include basic materials such as pencils and pens, pencil crayons, sharpeners, erasers, lined paper, notebooks, rulers and more. A more comprehensive list of suggested supplies can be found on the event website, www.accesscharity.ca/schoolsupplydrive.

Fair Trade Certified organic chocolate and sugar products will also be sold at the event, to raise funds and spread the message about ethically produced goods. Fair Trade results in improved standards of living for producers, and high-quality products for consumers.

To confirm attendance and invite others to the drive, see the Facebook event page “4th Annual ACCESS School Supply Drive”. A video entitled “Bring Change” has also been created to promote the fundraiser, which can be viewed below, or on the event website.

Come support global education and be the change in your community! Please visit www.accesscharity.ca and www.facebook.com/accesscharity to keep up to date with ACCESS news and events.



ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. For more information and resources, please visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Media Inquiries: Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Non-Profits on Twitter and Social Media

The cover story on CharityVillage.com this week discusses non-profits, social media, and key strategies for a successful online presence. As more and more online users sign on to Twitter and other social networking websites, it's clear that nonprofits can not afford to ignore this growing trend. That is why ACCESS is actively utilizing the web 2.0. In the article below, ACCESS founder Daniel Francavilla is interviewed about the effects of social media for the non-profit organization.

Tweeting, not just for birds anymore

By Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf
CharityVillage.com

After the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) for 2007 results were released recently, it is clear that an important area being watched is the burgeoning use of social networking applications on the Internet, and what they are doing to revolutionize both public and organizational involvement in the sector.

For experienced "netizens," terms like "tweeting," "facebooking," and "friending" are well-known. But to organizations unsure of how to "perch" themselves on the Internet's complex social networking high-wire, the terminology can be baffling. Harder still, is trying to make positive use of the rampant social networks' rapidly evolving culture.

But North American organizations are beginning to see the advantages of using social networking tools to get their messaging out to the public and raise awareness for their causes.

Consider the following U.S. stats, from the Pew Internet and American Life Project survey of more than 2,000 people, on who're using social networking:

• 75% - The number of online adults ages 18-24 who have a profile on a social networking site.
  
• 74% - The share of Internet users ages 64 and older who send and receive email - the most popular activity for this group.
  
• 27% - The number of bloggers who say they have used Twitter or a similar service to share status updates.

A similar Canadian survey of 1,019 people conducted by MSN and Harris/Decima in March revealed the following stats:

• 9 out of 10 Canadians maintain more than one online account.
  
• 8 out of 10 Canadians spend at least an hour a day on the Internet for personal reasons; of those, nearly half (45%) are spending three or more hours online.
  
• 1/3 of Canadians check their social networking profiles frequently throughout the day.

And it's expected these numbers will only rise.

Navigating the digital "ecosystem"

According to Evelyn So, president of Noesium Consulting Inc., which specializes in advising voluntary sector organizations on how to make the best use of the Internet in their operating strategies, the first concept charities need to come to grips with about social networking is that it takes more than just creating a profile to make it work for you.

"One of the main problems is that many companies, profits or nonprofits, do not differentiate 'social media' from 'social media tools,'" she says. "Tools are technology/platforms like Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Social media, on the other hand, is the whole ecosystem of how people communicate with each other. You cannot just say 'Let's get on Twitter' and consider that social media. In fact, this almost guarantees failure - you will be wasting your resources and efforts...worst case, such action can backfire."

But she says that the Canadian voluntary landscape is ripe for the use of this new technology for many reasons, but mainly because "The nonprofit sector...is community-driven, it taps into and is often very responsive to its target audience and most importantly...there is a clear mission. In addition, they are influential social changers who share these key attributes."

"Fundraising, volunteer gathering, and awareness campaigns [are] all about conveying messages to and connecting with people," So asserts. "And social networks are where people are nowadays and will continue to be. While charities cannot do everything virtually - face to face will always be a huge part of communication - social media allows nonprofits to tap into a large audience and the networks connected to this audience. They still need to target the right people, of course, but the process is made far more efficient via technology."

E-talking the e-talk

Unsurprisingly, many sector organizations have turned to sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Friendster and others as a fast and efficient way to connect with interested parties and gather a virtual membership, if not some actual volunteers.

In fact, one of the most influential organizations on the Canadian scene, Imagine Canada, has been intensively using social networking over the last two years.

During a recent interview, Marnie Grona, marketing and communications director with Imagine, told CharityVillage that to her social networking was "like word-of-mouth...on steroids."

Grona is the "dedicated" staffer for social networking at Imagine, which she says she enjoys immensely as she "has an aptitude" for it, even if it adds to her already full plate of responsibilities, she quips.

"One of the things [sector organizations] should do is to have somebody who takes ownership" of the social networking portfolio, she counsels. "You have to adjust your communications strategy for each [social network] channel, because each will have its own audience, who in turn will use and share information a little differently."

For Grona, the major benefit derived from tapping into the rapid-fire world of social networking is that it comes at virtually no direct financial cost.

"We're moving from the monologue to the dialogue."

Of course, it does take time to master and to integrate it with other communications channels for maximum effectiveness, Grona cautions. "But it's been a great way to get our message out there...to have conversations with people. Instead of a one-way monologue [of messaging], we can talk with people so they know what we do and what they think about us and what's going on in the sector. We're moving from the monologue to the dialogue."

This is probably an apt way to sum up the revolution happening in sector communication strategies across the nation. From small to large organizations, nonprofits are actually talking with - instead of talking at - the populace.

Not-so-broken social scene

Ontario-based charity, Allowing Children a Chance at Education [ACCESS], is one organization that has gone completely social.

Its president, Daniel Francavilla, was so keen to explain the benefits to CV, he jumped at the opportunity to comment for this story, by proactively contacting the author prior to deadline.

"As a relatively small youth-run organization, we recognize the countless advantages to having an active online presence. Event promotions can be done quickly and free of charge online, while being even more effective than putting up print posters in the community," he says. "Because ACCESS is made up of students, and because today's youth are nearly all online, social networking sites [along with] our blog and website, are the best possible ways to promote [ourselves]." Though Francavilla effusively praises this new technology, he admits there are still some areas that have yet to bear fruit.

"The success of social networking for nonprofits is also dependent upon the success and popularity of online giving. While awareness and memberships are very useful and encouraging, most organizations aim to gain financial support from their 'followers' in the end," he says.

Still, the relative online success of his organization is undeniable. According to his stats, ACCESS now has more than 1,200 fans on Facebook and another 650 on Twitter, the latter of which makes him optimistic for the future of social networking as a viable tool.

"Twitter has opened up our lines of communication to a whole new world of social activists, supporters, web specialists, and more in a very exciting way. Twitter has helped [us] to share news and to draw traffic to our website and blog...[and] has definitely been the best way to promote readership, gain subscribers, and recruit new content from other tweeters. We also promote our Facebook page and other profiles through tweets, and check out other organizations' links regularly."

Yet despite all this success, Francavilla also knows that there are big hurdles for a small organization such as his to overcome. Namely, that established, well-funded sector organizations maintain a competitive advantage and can sometimes "overshadow" others for attracting donor dollars and volunteers, because they can afford to spend on more lavish social network sites and page placements.

"Even though social networks like Twitter and Facebook are free of charge for all users, other individuals and larger organizations at both the for-profit and nonprofit levels do pay for advertising and promotion on social networks," he says. "You will notice this difference when you look at completely enhanced Facebook pages for corporations - such as TD Money Lounge for example- who also trying to reach the student market online."

The future's so bright, I gotta wear e-shades

Despite a potential imbalance between organizations that can and can't afford to spiffy up their online presence, the general sentiment by experts would seem to indicate that online dialoguing is only going to become more crucial for charities as time moves on.

According to So, Canadians are a nation of "passionate social changers" who constantly adapt to new technologies. However, she cautions that while "the potential of social media is totally undeniable...it is the thinking, planning, execution, and maintenance that a company needs to get in place first," in order for it to be successfully executed as a communications strategy.

"I always advise companies to start with someone who can provide a solid strategy, an understanding of the social media space, followed by a social media plan...which includes who, what, when, and how tactics," So says. "Consider this like building a park then having a team of staff to maintain and grow it. The exact scope will depend on the specific endeavour. If, say, Facebook is the only tool that is suitable based on the strategy, you may only need one person. But if you are building a more complex web [presence] with Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc., you will need dedicated staff to (a) oversee the ecosystem and (b) manage and upkeep each platform. Also, don't forget that offline activities are also part of this ecosystem."

Grona suggests that organizations keep an eye out for more studies on the topic in the next year, so they can better acclimatize to the new online social order.

But as a last bit of parting advice, she advises nonprofits not to get caught up in the numbers game of social networking stats.

"It takes a while to build that [critical] mass of followers and fans," she says. "[Imagine] has been on Twitter for about seven months and I remember the day we climbed over the 1,000 followers mark, I was amazed. But while it's easy to get caught up with the numbers, it's not the amount of followers, but the quality of the conversations you're having with them that counts the most. So for social marketing, it's quality not quantity."

Andy Levy-Ajzenkopf is president of WordLaunch professional writing services in Toronto. He can be reached at andy@wordlaunch.com.

The original article, "Tweeting, not just for birds anymore" can be found at CharityVillage.com.

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ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. ACCESS has been fundraising since March 2006.

For media inquiries, please email pr@accesscharity.ca or for general inquires email info@accesscharity.ca. Full details and resources can be found at www.accesscharity.ca.

Shop with purpose while supporting ACCESS online

If you could donate a percentage of every online purchase you make to ACCESS to support education projects, would you do it?

We hope so! We-Care.com lets you do this, with more than 900 online merchants. Just click through the access.we-care.com marketplace and shop on your favourite online stores as you normally would, and a percentage will be automatically donated to ACCESS.

Not sure when or where you would use this? Participating merchants include retail, travel, financial services, and quite a bit more. Book your flight and hotel. Rent a car. Shop for books. Apply for a mortgage. Buy furniture and household items. Send gifts. Search for apartments. Pick out a cell phone plan. Order web hosting and office supplies. Subscribe to magazines, newspapers, DVD services, and even satellite TV.

Planning on buying a book from Chapters or Indigo? Next time you are, you can support ACCESS online!

You can also install the We-Care.com plug-in for Internet Explorer or Firefox. With a plug-in, your donations will count (even if you forget to visit We-Care.com).

ACCESS benefits from all of your purchases through access.we-care.com - the program costs nothing for ACCESS, and there's no extra charge for you. Not only can you give, you also have access to special offers and discounts.

Enjoy being an occasional shopper or even a "shopaholic" while using access.we-care.com to extend your dollar from just your favourite book or pair of shoes to the comfort of knowing that you helped a worthy cause, ACCESS!

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ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally. For more information and resources, please visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Contact:
Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Youth Making a Difference Workshop to inspire local youth activism

Attention students, educators, organziations and activists of all ages!

With the popular inspirational words “you must be the change you wish to see in the world” from Mahatma Gandhi, ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education has joined forces with Continental Rescue Africa to present an exciting event - the Youth Making a Difference Workshop.

With similar visions of global education and youth empowerment, CRA and ACCESS will be hosting the Youth Making a Difference Workshop on Friday, May 29, 2009 at Century Gardens Recreation Centre in Brampton, Ontario.

The day features inspiring guest speakers and a variety of local non-profit organizations (including Student Reach, Volunteering Peel & Volunteer MBC, Youth Exchange, Youth Can Move the World, Mississauga Youth Games, Change the Future Foundation, Mississauga Mayor's Youth Team, Brampton Mayor's Youth Team, Project YouthTube, ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Continental Rescue Africa and more).

Register Online today or learn more at www.accesscharity.ca/workshop.

The goals of the workshop are to educate, empower, and raise awareness among youth.

• Educating: Equip them with more than the passion they need to work in social justice but also with the knowledge of HOW they can join us all in creating change. Provide them with the many options available to them to volunteer and to help them in starting their own organization
• Raising Awareness: organizations which engage in development work and social justice issues such as; poverty, famine, illiteracy, gender-based violence, gender-based issues, youth activism, job creation etc. will be given the platform to raise awareness about the critical nature of these issues and how we are implicated.
• Empowering: The specific scope of this workshop will be defined by the organizations which choose to work with us to empower the youth of today about how they can make change and be apart of change in their communities.
  

This workshop has been designed carefully to compliment curriculum and topics discussed in Ontario Schools. Students will gain new insight into the knowledge they have acquired in the classroom, and will further be empowered to make a difference. Students will be inspired to make the change they wish to see in the world and empower others through raising awareness.

Registration for the Youth Making a Difference Workshop is open online at accesscharity.ca/workshop. Registration closes soon so please do so as soon as possible!

• Please invite others to the workshop through its Facebook Event page!
  
• Register Online or learn more at www.accesscharity.ca/workshop.
• Email info@accesscharity.ca with any inquiries.
  

Support Literacy during Global Action Week!

Support Literacy with Global Action Week through ACCESS Charity and the Canadian Global Campaign for Education

From April 20-26, 2009, children and adults around the world are invited to participate in Global Action Week. This year’s theme is Literacy, featuring the Big Read event.

ACCESS is promoting Global Action Week and is encouraging schools, students, and individuals to take action! A webpage has been launched at www.accesscharity.ca/globalactionweek.

Global Action Week is lead by the Canadian Global Campaign for Education, a coalition of NGOs, research institutes, faculties of education and teachers’ federations that are helping more people receive a quality education throughout the world.

The Big Read campaign’s aims to increase awareness of the struggles of those who are deprived of the chance that an education gives them in life. Unable to read, write or count, many cannot defend their rights and are often trapped in a lifetime of poverty. Around the world there are about 774 million illiterate adults, the majority being women. Occurring in over 100 countries, the week is part of a campaign to give every child and adult in the world an education by 2015.

Teachers and students have the chance to join millions by participating in the event through a variety of ways:

• Fundraise for Children in the Developing World through ACCESS
• Write About Literacy & Activism on the Speak Up for Change Blog
• Register Officially for Global Action Week Online
• Write a Petition to the Government of Canada
• Download Educator Resources and Curriculum
• Take Part on the Big Read

Consider participating in support of the campaign for Education for All and ACCESS international education projects. Together, help to become the first generation to ensure that the entire world can have a quality education!

For full details and resources on how to take action during Global Action Week, please visit www.accesscharity.ca/globalactionweek!

To subscribe to further Email Updates from ACCESS, please click here.

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ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally.

For more information and resources, please visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Contact:
Daniel Francavilla, President
daniel@accesscharity.ca
Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Educational presentations provide knowledge and inspiration for youth

ACCESS offers presentations that educate and inspire youth to make a difference!

In today's complex society, global issues are becoming more of a focus. With growing economic disparity, issues such as poverty, education and sustainability are increasingly important.

ACCESS continues to offer inspiring presentations to schools, organizations and conferences. ACCESS Educational Presentations cover a variety of topics related to social action, and feature first-hand experience of the Dominican Republic Exposure Experience.

“You have inspired me and the students I teach to think and act beyond the borders of our own comfort zones. I thank you for awakening in us ears, hearts and hands willing to listen, feel and work towards a more just distribution of education opportunities for all.” - Dale Cimolai, Teacher

Presentations are customizable to meet specific educational requirements, event themes, or school campaigns. Topics include; Social Justice, Youth Activism, Making a Difference, Life in the Developing World, Dominican Republic Exposure Experience, and ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education.

“Your presentation allowed students to understand how fortunate they are to have what they have and how important it is to be aware of how little others have and why we are duty-bound to give to those in need.” - Sonia Rotino, Principal

As a youth-run organization, ACCESS promotes youth's power to make a difference. Once inspired, students and groups can take action! Fundraising campaigns are available.

For booking details, please visit http://accesscharity.ca/presentations.htm and download the ACCESS Presentation Flyer here.

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ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally.

For more information, resources and inquiries, visit www.accesscharity.ca.

Contact:
Daniel Francavilla, President
daniel@accesscharity.ca
Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Three years ago today, a dream was born

The unsuspecting weekend of March 4, 2006 held the conception of the non-profit organization ACCESS Charity, three eventful years ago.

Since the initial presentation about the Dominican Republic Exposure Trip at a Brampton church was followed by a collection of over $8,000 three years ago, ACCESS has developed into an active youth-run organization. (Full text from the initial presentation can be read online here.)

In light of their unofficial third anniversary, ACCESS is releasing a 2-minute promotional video.

The video, embedded below, was created by Heads or Tails and tells a brief story about the organization and its roots.

If you cannot see it below, please click here to view the new promotional video.



ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. was officially incorporated in the province of Ontario on May 28, 2008. For details on this non-profit status, click here.

Today, ACCESS continues to expand both its international education and local youth involvement projects. ACCESS strives to provide children in the developing world with school uniforms and supplies, giving them the opportunity to obtain an education and successful future. ACCESS also aims to educate youth across North America about relevant issues, youth activism, and about the current situation in the developing world.

ACCESS offers a variety of local programs including Educator Resources, Educational Presentations, Speak Up for Change Youth Blog and Volunteer Opportunities along with international development projects including a Haitian student's university fund, School Supply Drives for Honduran students, and more.

To receive future ACCESS Email Updates, visit www.accesscharity.ca/subscribe.

For media inquiries, email kody@accesscharity.ca. Please contact us here for general inquiries.

World Day of Social Justice and "Phanuel Friday"

Youth-run organization offers fundraising opportunity benefiting global education

TORONTO - February 16, 2009 - Celebrating World Day of Social Justice this Friday has been made easier for everyone including educators, media outlets, and community organizations. Phanuel Friday is an initiative being launched by ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, a youth-run non-profit organization benefitting the developing world and empowering students locally.

Phanuel is a young man living in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where only about half of the population is literate and primary school net enrollment is also only estimated at 50%. Being accepted to university is a dream for Phanuel and his entire community! ACCESS is calling individuals, through communities such as schools, to make a small step in recognizing that all youth, regardless of their status, should be given a chance to achieve a the highest level of education!

The event called "Phanuel Friday" focuses on a simple $2 donation from each and every willing and able student in one such school, community, or group, to fund Phanuel's full university education costs, providing an individual with access to a valuable education which he would otherwise not be able to afford.

Annually on February 20, World Day of Justice was created by the United Nations to encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication. It also focuses on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration.

The campaign continues beyond Friday's World Day of Social Justice. Schools, parishes, and community organizations are asked to host a "Phanuel Friday" during the month of February and March this year.

Details on the campaign can be found at accesscharity.ca/phanuelfriday.htm

To subscribe to Email Updates from ACCESS, please click here.

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ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally.

For more information or media inquiries, visit www.accesscharity.ca for resources including downloadable documents, project details, and photos and video.

Contact:
Daniel Francavilla, President
daniel@accesscharity.ca
Kody Robinson, Public Relations Coordinator
kody@accesscharity.ca

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Supporting a dream through school expansion project in Jamaica

As a collaborative development project, ACCESS is involved in the expansion of a primary school in Jamaica.

Ken Cooper, a Brampton, Ontario resident, took time to visit the school he attended 36 years ago while on a recent trip to Jamaica.

Polly Ground Basic School is the equivalent of a pre-school in North America for 3 to 5 year olds. It is located just over two hours east of Montego Bay and two hours west of Kingston, in the middle of the Island. It is in what is considered a rural area.

Ken shares his experience in Jamaica, which was the inspiration to initiate the Jamaica Project, for which details follow.

As I walked through the doorway, I noticed how crowded it was. The one room school had been divided into 3 classes, by 2 blackboards.

Although many of the children were already at school early, the majority had not yet arrived. There appeared to be little room for others. I also noticed the temperature difference between outside and inside the school. It was hot, even for Jamaica, and it was not yet 8:30 am.

I introduced myself to the first adult that I saw. She happened to be the teacher and also the principal of the school. I told her that I was a former student and just wanted to see the school. She allowed me to look around and speak to the children for a few minutes.


After making conversation with the principal about how little things have changed she asked if I was in a position to assist her with increasing the size of the school. She went on to say they are in need of the basics things like books, pencils, paper and even toys for the kids to play with. But the most important thing she mentioned was increasing the size of the school. I asked, “Isn’t there a school board that is supposed to look after these things?” She said we would be better trying to do what we can for ourselves. I told her I was not in a position to assist her by myself, but that perhaps I could ask some others to assist.

She requested, “Maybe you could get us a fan”. I said, “Sure, I can do that”. She asked, “can you get three since we have 3 classes?” By this time all the children had arrived for school. The small one room school was now housing over 50 students. The schoolroom was full, it became hotter and the noise level was incredible. I was shocked to see that there were 6 kids sharing the same desk simple because there was no space to but another one. I went to the market later that day and purchased 3 wall mounted fans and installed them the next day. When we turned them on and the papers started to fly around the children started to laugh. The all said ‘thank you’. The feeling I was left with was like they had given me a million dollars. It was awesome!

The school is currently 1300 square feet in total. The main goal of this project is to build an additional 800 square feet so that the children will have a better learning environment. Additional funds will be used to purchase books and supplies.

In January 2009, a fundraiser was held in Mississauga, Ontario raising over $4,000 through various activities including a silent auction. The total goal for this project is $16,000.00 CAN, or approximately one million dollars Jamaican.

Donations to the project can be made online through ACCESS by clicking here. Tax receipts are available for donations over $20, and must be made via cash or cheque. To inquire about donation details please email info@accesscharity.ca.

For updates on this initiative, please visit jamaica.accesscharity.ca.

---

ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc. is a youth-run organization aiming to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, enabling them with the opportunity to obtain an education for decent employment and a successful life. ACCESS also aims to educate North American youth about related world issues, and to inspire them to make a difference globally.

For more information or media inquiries, visit www.accesscharity.ca where resources including project details, and photos and video are available.

Inspired student and family fundraise

Once again, elementary school student Christian Malatesta along with parents and sister Bianca, acted on his personal desire to help children in the developing world receive an education.

Inspired by the story of ACCESS Members' experiences in the developing world, the Malatesta's took on their own initiative to raise funds for the second time. Selling baked goods within their Brampton elementary school this winter, the family raised over $300 for ACCESS projects overseas.

ACCESS recognizes the support of the family, through their passionate supporter, Christian. In 2006, the Malatesta's held a cookie bake sale for teachers, in addition to generously donated their personal gift-money, raising $400 in total.

ACCESS Charity Official Blog = ACCESS Charity Official News

What was previously known as the ACCESS Charity Official Blog has now been converted to the ACCESS Charity Official News source.

Instead of housing occasional secondary posts, this will now be the primary source for all official ACCESS news and announcements, while still operating through blog format. It has replaced the News page on the ACCESS website, www.accesscharity.ca.

In addition, our news can also be accessed directly, at blog.accesscharity.ca.

To receive ACCESS Charity News Updates in your email inbox, please Subscribe here.

Previous subscribers will continue to receive news and articles, as they are posted, via email. We apologize for the older posts you may have received in your email inbox, as we have been updating our news archive.

We invite you to visit our website often and share your thoughts by commenting on our postings.

Thanks for your continued support!

The Executive Team
ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc.

Charity necessary during economic uncertainty

Daniel Francavilla
TORONTO STAR
Global Voices

Today, innocent children are dying due to poverty around the world – one every two seconds. Yet, on Black Friday, a Wal-Mart worker in the United States was trampled to death by consumers rushing to retail sales.

The impending financial disaster is creating a perfect storm for non-profit organizations trying to aid those in poverty, as donations decline while the need for help rises.

ShareLife, the Archdiocese of Toronto's charity, is one group stepping forward with programs responding to the increased social services demand.

“The Catholic organizations in the Archdiocese are very involved in helping the most needy,” says Archbishop Thomas Collins. “I’m particularly aware of their great need of resources to help the poor in need. I encourage people in the Archdiocese to support them more than ever.”

Charities face the same stress as many companies, banks and businesses.

The Vancouver Foundation is the largest of Canada’s 165 community foundations and supports about 600 charities per year.

The organization’s president, Faye Wightman, says that “many of these non-profit (organizations) are the last stop for thousands of people … who get hit by larger economic forces and find themselves teetering on the edge.”

Unfortunately, while need increases, economic uncertainty creates a large barrier.

“These charities are hit with reduced donations, corporate sponsorships that dry up, and often reduced funding from government and even foundations,” says Wightman.

Despite today's economic uncertainty, there are organizations that continue to fund projects both locally and overseas. Long-term planning and new strategies can help organizations survive.

Perhaps the economic crisis will spur people to see that our consumer culture has skewed priorities. At the Conference on Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Waterloo this past November, Marc Kielburger offered a simple yet challenging notion: "if we want to change Africa, we have to change North America."

As affluent people also begin to suffer financially, perhaps their empathy will trigger social change to benefit humanity worldwide.

Daniel Francavilla is currently a university student in Toronto at the Ontario College of Art + Design. From Brampton, Daniel founded a non-profit organization, ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, and Speak Up for Change, a youth blog on poverty and education-related issues.


Published on TheStar.com

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from ACCESS

ACCESS to participate in Youth Can Move the World Symposium 2009

Last February, ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education was featured at an inspiring youth event in Mississauga, Ontario. With ACCESS founder Daniel Francavilla presenting the keynote speech, and dedicated volunteers operating an ACCESS info booth, the event was a great opportunity to showcase and promote youth activism. On February 21, 2009, the Youth Can Move the World Symposium will once again welcome hundreds of local youth, along with ACCESS and several other non-profit organizations to the event.

The Youth Can Move the World Symposium is a free, one-day event, open to all youth in Peel Region (Ontario, Canada) age 15 to 25. The event includes an Agency Fair which allows local, non-profit organizations to showcase their services, programs and volunteer opportunities to youth.

Youth Can Move the World is inspired by the United Nations declaration of the years 2005-2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. This non-profit group organizes the symposium for youth to learn about and become involved in programs focused on creating a world that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. It is also designed to encourage and enable youth to engage with community-based organizations to explore opportunities to transform their interests into action through volunteerism.

Peel’s first Youth Can Move the World Symposium was held in 2006, and the 2008 event, supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, welcomed over 250 youth and 24 agencies.

For more information on this year's event, please visit www.youthcanmovetheworld.ca. To read an article about ACCESS' participation in last year's event, click here.

Colombian Squires fundraiser at St. Anne's Parish

Local members of the Colombian Squires raised $300 for ACCESS, selling chocolate bars on Sunday October 26th, 2008 at St. Anne's Parish in Brampton.

Along with raising money and distributing flyers, they also collected 200 pounds of school supplies, which they will deliver to Dr. Simone's Canadian Food for Children for shipping to the developing world, on behalf of ACCESS.

>> Click for Larger Photo
>> Click for Photo of Supplies

Launching "Speak Up for Change" Blog Program

In addition to raising money for students in developing nations, ACCESS aims to engage and educate youth in North America about relevant world issues and the current global development situation. Speak Up for Change is a new initiative of ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education with School Supplies, Inc.

About Speak Up for Change

Launched in the fall of 2008, Speak Up for Change is a program that gives both youth and organizations a chance to write about poverty and education-related issues. It provides students with writing experience and online exposure, as well as community service hours and prizes, and provides organizations with exposure.

Topics include social justice, youth activism, global development, poverty, education, political action, and more.

Contributors respond to current events, related quotes, and social justice issues. The forum is moderated by members of the ACCESS Speak Up for Change Team, who both assign and edit the articles. Topics will be posted by the team on a regular basis, inviting responses by youth. Schools are encouraged to become involved in the program, as a the topics and writing assignments easily fit as a component of their curriculum. Guest contributors are welcome and include educators, politicians, local celebrities, members of the non-profit community, and social activists.

It's estimated that globally 1.5 million new blog entries will have appeared in the past week. Through Speak Up for Change, let's ensure that we contribute as many positive, youth-written, change-driven posts as we can.

Calling You to Action

ACCESS is seeking schools, students, and individuals who are interested in participating in the program. This includes blog entries from non-profit organizations, relating to our topics above. Both regular contributors and one-time participants are welcome.

Submissions will be published on the Speak Up for Change website, after being approved by our editors and categorized according to topic and theme. Please consider writing a new blog entry, or sending us existing written content for the blog. Accompanying video and photos are most welcome.

Funding the Program

As a non-profit organization, ACCESS is still accepting sponsors for the Speak Up for Change program. The program is currently supported in part by local organizations.

Prizes to reward participation in the program as well as for promotional campaigns are ideal. Additional funds would be used to promote the program through advertisements online, send information packages to schools, and provide printed resources to participating students.

Visit the new website at www.speakupforchange.ca

To get involved today, send an email to editor@accesscharity.ca.

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty October 17th to 19th

October 17th is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty when people worldwide show their solidarity with the poor and commitment to ending poverty. Join millions around the world as they STAND UP and TAKE ACTION Against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. This worldwide call to action is led by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that were drawn from the Millennium Declaration adopted by 191 member countries of the United Nations in 2000. The MDGs respond to the world's main development challenges and in a brief outline promise to:

1. eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. achieve universal primary education
3. promote gender equality and empower women
4. reduce child mortality
5. improve maternal health
6. combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases
7. ensure environmental sustainability
8. develop a global partnership for development

At the halfway point to 2015 some progress has been made on the MDGs but urgent action is needed if nations are to deliver on the promise in the Millennium Declaration: "We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected."

Last year a record breaking 43.7 million people around the world stood up and called for action against poverty and inequality. Help break the Guinness World Record this year and send an even louder message to our governments for more and better aid, debt cancellation, trade justice and other action to end poverty.

You can stand up anywhere: at work, at church, in the streets, at the family dinner table, or in the classroom. You can also send letters to the government or any number of other creative ways to contribute towards ending poverty and inequality. You may also use this opportunity to tell others about ACCESS and how they can help eradicate extreme poverty and more, through education.

Life in the Bateyes - A Bittersweet Existence

It is estimated that about 500,000 to 1.000,000 Haitian emigrants are currently living and working in the Dominican Republic. Most toil in sugarcane fields and live in communities called Bateyes, in conditions that have changed little since slavery was legal.

This short documentary sheds light on the life and living conditions endured by those who live at the margin of society.

Annual School Supply Drive raises awareness, supplies, and funds

ACCESS called upon the community to add extra items to their back-to-school carts for students in the developing world who have very limited access to these items.

Several high-school students volunteered to help make the fundraising event a success. School supplies were donated and Cocoa Camino Fair Trade chocolate bars and cane sugar were sold at the event.

Rogers Television aired a news story on First Local News on September 3rd (above).

>> Read the full article here
>> View a photo slideshow of the event

Want a Revolution? Just get out there and Change the World

by Daniel Francavilla

After reading Leaving Microsoft to Change the World during March Break this year, I became even more inspired to get out there and do something to change the world. The book is by a former Microsoft executive named John Wood, who left a very promising career track to form a charity called Room to Read at age 35.

Wood's charity helps thousands of children across the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the power of education. This is exactly the type of thing I feel so strongly about, and is the main cause of ACCESS.

What’s interesting is that both Wood and myself were inspired by first-hand experiences in the developing world. I went on a high-school exposure trip to the Dominican Republic, and Wood went to Nepal – originally just as a getaway from his stressful job – but made a promise to the impoverished people he met that he would one day come back with books. And, he did, and has now opened hundreds of schools and thousands of libraries in the developing world.

Still, some people say there are too many charities and non-profits already. But I believe it’s not about the format or structure of how good work is being done, it’s about the fact that everyone needs to do his or her share.

People say they want a revolution. Well, it all starts with you. There are plenty of problems in the world today... climate change, terrorism, war, poverty, disease, economic disparity, hopelessness and more. But you can do something. Here’s what I learned from Leaving Microsoft to Change the World about this:

Don’t spend too much time thinking about it – just dive in.

Yes, there are things in our way like student loans that need to be repaid, previous career commitments, advice from advice from family and friends, the need to write a serious plan of action… Take care of these things, but don’t loose momentum getting through all these obstacles! As with John Wood, people will talk you out of pursuing your dream. Too many people will tell you why something might not work. Stop yourself from thinking, “I don’t live there, it’s not my problem”.

So, when all you’re thinking about is getting through University and hitting it big as a high-powered executive or owning a successful business, just think of those who have made charitable activities and causes a major part of their daily lives, including the most successful business people such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Wood had to make many sacrifices from his high-class life, like downgrading his condo and firing his personal driver, but doing good work for the world has got him on the Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Fox News, National Geographic TV, Time Magazine, Forbes, the New York Times, and many more!

Success isn’t defined by how much money you make. It’s about what you do with your time and money that makes your life worthwhile.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world!" - Gandhi

The Barrio (She Walked with Me)

By Kristine Hardy

A steep climb up the slippery steps,
To a place never seen by most.
Cement walls and tin roofs towering above me,
And tin cans cast upon the ground.

Wild dogs feed on scraps left behind,
It’s not enough to last the week.
All they can do is sleep off their desire,
Frozen in the frigid nights.

The children line the path I walk
Their smiles beam like the newly risen sun.
Without warning I felt a small hand clasp mine,
And she walked with me.

The above poem was written by Kristine Hardy, a Canadian student who visited the an impoverished barrio in the Dominican Republic in 2008.

Bateyes and Barrios are two of the types of areas in which Dominicans and Dominicans of Haitian decent reside. Both terms' descriptions generally discuss impoverished, underdeveloped areas. The areas where the sugar cane cutters live and work are called "bateyes", which you can learn more about here. However, the above poem discusses life in a "barrio", a word that often implies that the poverty level is high in such a neighborhood.

Paradise Amongst Poverty

By Patricia Stavropoulos

The dirt ground feels hard beneath my feet. The dust in the air clouds my eyes. I look around. Huts and old dilapidated half-houses encircle the makeshift dirt field I’m standing in. In this remote and poor village people go about their daily lives. A shady one-room school house stands off to the side. Children in blue and khaki uniforms with no shoes teach Spanish songs to visitors. A brave young man climbs up a two story palm tree to collect oversized coconuts. A solitary boy reads from an old textbook in the shade. Life goes on.

Dozens of children form a large circle. They sing and dance a sort of marry-go-round game and freeze. Bursts of laughter fill the air. Mothers clutching half naked babies point and smile. Enjoying the goodtime the children are having just as much as they are. While the sun shines brilliantly illuminating the fun. A young woman washes clothes by hand in a broken washing machine. The wind blows dirt on the clean clothes hanging beside her. She is laughing too.

It starts to rain. Thousands of heavy water droplets litter the ground. I feel my clothes start to stick to my body as everyone dashes for cover. Over hanging tin roofs become a new shelter. An escape from the tumultuous weather. Thick raindrops compose a new beat on the hard metal. Bodies black and white cling to each other for protection. Young students tie their uniform shirts around their heads to stay dry. A new game is invented. In the midst of poverty, happiness exists in the simplest of things. Life goes on.

Patricia traveled to the Dominican Republic on a high-school exposure trip in 2007

Contest winners announced!

Students express the importance of education through ACCESS contest


Brampton elementary school students from grades one to eight submitted a wide variety of entries to the ACCESS Charity Student Contest. Submissions consisted of poetry, paragraphs, paintings, drawings, and collages. The winners of the Spring 2008 Student Contest were notified and awarded on June 24, 2008 in their schools.

>> See the winning entries now!
>> Read the full news release online

ACCESS at Canadian Food for Children

ACCESS visits the Canadian Food for Children Warehouse in Mississauga to showcase the dedicated organization's daily work.

Columbian Squires welcome ACCESS to Ontario Provincial Board Conference

On June 7, 2008 Daniel Francavilla was invited to present to the Columbian Squires Ontario Provincial Board and guests at the 54th Annual Squires Convention in St. Catherines, Ontario.

The Squires also presented ACCESS with a donation and a letter. Thank you to Dylan Robertson, Provincial Chief Squire, for coordinating the presentation. Arthur Peters, Executive Director of ShareLife, was also present.

The Columbian Squires, which builds character and develops leadership, is the official youth organization of the Knights of Columbus.

We Want Change!

ACCESS would like to present "Change", a video and poem created entirely by two Brampton high school students, Jennifer Paul and Kevin Saychareun as a contest submission. It won Best Overall in its group and Viewer's Choice in the Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge Contest, an online video contest to get youth across Canada thinking about and getting involved in global issues. The winning video, and original poem, are posted below.

Please vote for this video by clicking "Change" here.



"Change" Poem

Day by day
Time goes by
I keep dreaming, hoping and wishing
That life will pass me by

They walk right past me
Barely stopping to stare
They look right through me
I doubt they even care...

How I ended up here?
That doesn't matter...
Will I be here tomorrow?
I'll worry about that in the latter.

I'm just one star
In a galaxy of many
I'm just one man
In a world full of plenty
But if I can make a difference?
in this world full of many?
Then maybe I can the be Sun
For one planet of plenty

And though I may go hungry tonight
Through the darkness, I will be the light.
And though my pockets are full of lint and air
I will be the difference, I will make people care.
And despite the fact that I'm malnourished and cold,
I will fight this fight until the day I grow old.

You see, if people dropped change
instead of coins
And if people made love
Instead of noise
And if people saw the heart
Inside of this man
Then maybe people would find the courage
To take a stand.

If only people did that...
the world would spin round,
and every single person-
would be heaven bound...

You see, I'm not crazy
I'm not deranged.
Keep your coins.
I want change.

Written by Jennifer Paul © 2008
Directed by Kevin Saychareun
Starring Michael Onabolu

Now Registered as a Non-Profit Corporation!

After a long period of planning and processing, ACCESS has now been officially registered as a Non-Profit Corporation in the province of Ontario, Canada.

Our official legal name is "ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, Inc." and our Ontario Corporation Number (OCN) is 1766228.

For details on the process and on what this registration means for ACCESS, please visit our nonprofit page.

Speaking with St. Aidan's Students

Intermediate students of the new St. Aidan Elementary School in Brampton participated in an ACCESS awareness and motivational presentation April 30, 2008 in the school's library.

Students were very responsive and the school presented ACCESS Charity with a cheque of over $100 raised by the students prior to the visit.

Thank you especially to Ms. Denise Tonon, the Teacher-Librarian at St. Aidan School for all of her support and coordination.

Presentation at St. Lucy's School

On April 29, 2008, Daniel Francavilla presented to the grades 1-8 students at St. Lucy Catholic Elementary School in Brampton, on the topic of poverty in the developing world and the situation in the Dominican Republic.

Special thanks to Principal Margery Bergen-Hoy and Vice Principal Deanna Tucciarone for their commitment to the presentation and supporting ACCESS Charity.

The school has been involved in countless social-justice initiatives.

Called to Make a Difference: Presentation at School Board Office

In celebration of Catholic Education Week, ACCESS founder Daniel Francavilla spoke on the importance of education and student involvement at the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Office in Mississauga.

The board is one of largest and most diverse in Ontario, with nearly 88,000 students in 144 Catholic schools throughout Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon and Orangeville.

The presentation was a success and donations to ACCESS Charity were made by audience members.

Thank you to Annalisa Sodhi and Carolyn Esvelt for coordinating the engagement.

Read the full speech online here.

Student Contest Entry Deadline

From April 15 to May 23, students from participating elementary schools are invited to enter the first ever ACCESS Charity Student Contest.
The goal of this program is to raise awareness of world issues relating to education and poverty, by engaging local students in activities that allow them to express concern for the cause.

Full details can be found on our new Student Contests website, accesscharity.ca/contests.htm.

Read the article online here.

Student Contests!

On April 15, 2008, ACCESS Charity will launch a new initiative to get students thinking about the importance of education!

Many of us take school for granted, of course. That's why we're is launching ACCESS Student Contests, so that students in developed countries can remember the privilege they have been given - the chance to go to school.

Prizes including MP3 players and gift cards will be awarded to winning students.

To get involved or to learn more, visit accesscharity.ca/contests.htm!

Youth Can Move the World Symposium

ACCESS Charity TV: Video News from the Event
For more videos on the Youth Can Move the World Symposium or on ACCESS Charity, visit our new YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/accesscharity.

Your Experience in the Developing World

Share your experience on your trip to a developing country. Describe your feelings and memories from the Dominican Republic Exposure Experience. The people, the culture, the poverty, the lifestyle, the events.

You can read an example story by clicking here. Post yours by replying to this post, or try clicking here.

It's so important for others to learn about what you've experienced! There is no equal to actually going to one of these countries and meeting the people.

Thanks for sharing!

Inspiring Agents of Change at Youth Can Move the World Symposium

On February 23, 2008, ACCESS was featured in the Agency Fair at this year's Youth Can Move The World Symposium. The event aimed to inspire and engage local youth in volunteer organizations.

Read the full article here.
See the news release here.
See the photos gallery here.

For the event's information, visit youthcanmovetheworld.ca.

Youth Can Move the World - Agency Fair Introduction

The following is a speech presented by Daniel Francavilla at the 2008 Symposium in Mississauga, Ontario.

Youth Can Move the World is a symposium and a character building forum where youth learn about, and become involved in, programs and activities focused on creating a world that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. It is designed to encourage and enable youth to engage with community-based organizations to explore opportunities to transform their interests into action through local volunteerism.


Good morning everyone. My name is Daniel, and I am a grade 12 Brampton student, and am also Founder of my own International Agency. More on that in a minute! I am here to tell you about the Agency Fair at today's event.

The Agency Fair was created for several reasons. First, it provides an avenue to promote youth volunteerism and it also provides an opportunity for Agencies to showcase to youth their valuable services in our community. This year we have 22 Agencies participating. We would have liked to have included more agencies, but available space kept us to this number.

By volunteering with one of the agencies here today, you can become a leader! You will help to create new knowledge about volunteering for yourself and for future groups and generations following you. Each of these Agencies has agreed to participate in a research study following the Symposium. The purpose of this research is to:
• contribute to the growth in the number of youth who volunteer their time within the community;
• identify some of the barriers to this, and
• determine some ways in which the experience of this engagement can be enhanced for both the youth and the agencies with which they volunteer.

We will share our research findings with all participating youth and agencies. We will be asking all youth who sign up for volunteer opportunities here at the Fair to sign a “request for release of information” form to enable us to follow up with you and the agencies later about your experiences.

There are also prizes to be drawn from those who submit a validated 'passport' from visiting the agency booths.

So, we invite each and everyone one of you to explore the booths, learn more about the agencies, and of course consider signing up for one of their volunteer opportunities. There will be staff and volunteers from each of these agencies ready and waiting to answer any of your questions, tell you about their services, and of course also tell you about the volunteer opportunities they have available.

Along with the agency staff, there will be Sheridan College students who have volunteered today from the Community Worker Program who will be assisting these agencies and assisting Donna McBride, the Agency Fair Coordinator.

Now, I’d like to share some of my story.

I’m currently finishing grade 12 at d’Youville – but when I was in grade 10, just 2 years ago, I had a life-changing experience. I had the chance to visit the Dominican Republic. But I can guarantee, I did not experience the Dominican Republic in the way that many of you have – endless sandy beaches, unlimited drinks, air conditioning, massages, pools, huge buffets, or snorkeling.

Instead, I was exposed to the harsh reality of life in the developing world. In this beautiful vacation hotspot there is much suffering. Just outside the doors of the resort, a world of extreme poverty exists.

Whether it be children living in isolated villages working on the sugar cane fields or adults working long, exhausting days for almost no pay, I witnessed a lot of corruption – which is a reality in our world today. But of course, there is hope. Why are we here today? Because we can move the world.

Immediately after I returned home to Brampton, I felt inspired to make a difference. My intent was not simply to satisfy my personal desire to help; but to make a lasting change. After much thought and support from the Church I attend, I came up with the title “ACCESS Charity”. My goal in short: to provide children in the developing world with an education. Something that many of us take for granted here in North America – the chance to go to school!

Fortunately, fundraising began with a bang. After speaking at the services one weekend at St. Marguerite d’Youville Church, I was able to raise $8,500 towards the new project called ACCESS. Amazed at the support, I proudly sent the money to the Grey Sisters in the Dominican Republic who purchased uniforms for as many children as they could. I chose this cause because many times, without a uniform, students aren’t allowed to go to school.

Since then, my friends, family, and both parish and school communities have shown support of ACCESS Charity through raffles and school supply drives. I was very excited to find out that I won the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award – more publicity for ACCESS and hopefully some encouragement for others to do the same work. It’s great because it is extremely important to raise awareness of the issues related to poverty; not simply raising money, but so that we as a whole, the youth, the next generation of this world, can use our knowledge and resources to enhance our world for the better of all humanity.

ACCESS is about youth making a difference on a global scale. It’s an acronym for “allowing children a chance at education with school supplies”, but it’s more than that. Let’s bridge the gap between our world and the developing world.

I hope that you take the time to visit the website for ACCESS, www.accesscharity.ca, and visit the booth – along with those of the other great organizations here today. If you would like to help fundraise or spread the message, I invite you come speak to us at the booth this afternoon.

As Gandhi said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world."

And on another note, being a leader and making a difference can mean something as simple as volunteering some of your time to a worthy cause, or it can mean taking bold action and organizing something, such as a GuluWalk for Peel Region. There really are no limits – only endless needs and opportunities. I was asked to speak to you today by the Youth Can Move the World Steering Committee specifically because of the work I have done to create ACCESS, and to be the change I wished to see in the world. You are all invited to consider how you might make a difference. As this symposium ends, communications with Youth Can More the World should not. The organization will work to bring you information about places where you too could make a difference in the world, either through our website or in partnership with other organizations. And, they welcome your suggestions and recommendations. Thank you for your time, and thank you for coming out today!

Watch the Video of the Speech



Also visit the website www.youthcanmovetheworld.com

Youth Can Move the World Symposium 2008

On February 23, 2008, ACCESS Charity will be one of the organizations represented at the Agency Fair at this year's Youth Can Move The World Symposium. "Inspiring Agents of Change" is the event's slogan.

Inspired by the United Nations declaration of the years 2005-2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Youth Can Move the World is a symposium where youth learn about programs and activities focused on creating a world that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. It is also designed to encourage and enable youth to engage with community-based organizations to explore opportunities to transform their interests into action through local volunteerism.

For more information please visit www.youthcanmovetheworld.com!

School in Colombia Sends Thanks

In December 2007, a donation from ACCESS funded the purchase of whiteboards and classroom stationary for students in a small town in Colombia. The school created a plaque to recognize our contributions to their school community.

Right, the staff wrote a thank-you for ACCESS on one of their new boards. The white boards will replaces damaged chalk boards and cut down on the consumption of chalk, which produces dust leading to health problems.

To view the new gallery of photos from Colombia, click here.

Update on ACCESS Colombia Project

This Christmas, to mark the start of the new school year in Colombia, ACCESS will be sending funds to purchase white-boards for classrooms in a local school, as well as provide many children with new notebooks and pencils for the start of their new school year. Updates on this Christmas initiative will be posted here.

New pictures from Colombia have been added to the Photos page. To view the slideshow, click here.

Radio Interview About ACCESS and Life in the Dominican Republic

On November 20, 2007 Daniel Francavilla was interviewed by Fr. Claudio Piccinini, C.P. and guests on Radio Teopoli, a daily English and Italian Catholic Radio program on Ciao Radio AM 530.

Listen to the interview by clicking here.

To listen to Radio Teopoli's regular programming (Italian and English), visit their media page on www.teopoli.org.

Imbalance of Wealthy vs. Poor

The wealthiest 20% of the world’s population own 74% of the world's wealth. The poorest 20% only owns 2%. If money is power, then clearly there's an imbalance here.

The standard world poverty line is $1.08 a day, that's it. What do you think of this? Do you think that the wealthy portion of the world, including North Americans, would be willing to sacrifice some of their luxuries to balance it out for the rest of the world's people?

Share your thoughts... remember, we're spending millions of dollars a year on MP3 players, you'd think we could take some away to help those dying around the world.

Office of Catholic Youth Recognizes ACCESS

The "OCY e-update" for April 28, 2006 included a mention of the creation and work of the "ambitious program", ACCESS. Father Edwin Gonsalves is the Director of the Office of Catholic Youth, and has recognized our organization. Here is the closing statement:

“I wish to share with you the story of Daniel Francavilla from the parish of Marguerite d’Youville who is witnessing to the resurrection. This young man visited the Dominican Republic and discovered that the young children lacked school supplies. On returning home, he decided to talk to his parish community and they raised a sizeable amount of money for the children in the Dominican Republic. This ambitious program is called A.C.C.E.S.S: allowing children a chance at education with school supplies. This young man and many others are witnessing to the resurrection. They are overcoming the negative influences in our world, by doing good. Christ is truly Risen. Let us continue to celebrate…”

Successful Presentation at Superintendent's Meeting

On April 15th, 2006 I was given the honour to present at a meeting held at Accession of Our Lord Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. The presentation included the homily previously presented at St. Marguerite d’Youville church as well as pictures of the people of Dominican Republic. In attendance were the administrators and other staff of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, who were exposed to the Dominican Republic trip experience. This served as an excellent source of exposure for ACCESS and for the needs that are present in the Dominican Republic.

A Fundraising Idea Called "Change for Change"

Change for Change, could be a Student/Work/Family Project, to raise money for ACCESS.

You would just keep a jar by the front door or common meeting place, fill it up with extra change ($) from the day. When it's full, email ACCESS and we'll pick it up for you!

Why do this? It's a constant reminder that there are other people who need your support out there, and that you do have so much extra, even if it may not feel that way. Good?

What are your thoughts??? Can this work, or do you have any better ideas for small-scale fundraising?

Presentations at St. Nicholas School

The visit to St. Nicholas Elementary School in Bolton, Ontario included presentation with pictures to the Intermediate students (grade 7 & 8 classes) as well as the grade 5 and 6 classes, with great listening and participation. Thank you to the Principal and the Teacher who allowed for this opportunity.

Students Donate from Class Business Project

A grade ten business class at St. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School donated the profits they raised from their Candy Apple Sale in October. The generous class presented ACCESS with a cheque of $242.93 on November 6, 2007. Thank you to Diana Prior and her first period class for their thoughtfulness, making an impact to those in need.

View larger picture and class picture. Photos by Ann Le

Success at the Annual Supply Drive

The School Supply Drive was a huge success at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church in Brampton, running weekends from August 18th to September 1st.Thanks to the many youth volunteers assisting with collections of supplies, monetary donations, and sharing information about the charity. To learn about shipping details, click here.

Click Here to read the full article on TheBramptonNews.com.
Click the Photos page for images.
Click Here to watch a slideshow.

Charity Bike Rider Schedules 2nd Annual Fundraiser

Keith Vaz, a Brampton high school student, has announced plans for his own bike ride fundraiser. Keith plans to obtain pledges to fund this initiative. Last year, the teen cycled 120 km in only two days, to raise money for charity. This year, he has agreed to donate the funds he collects to ACCESS Charity. The date he has currently set for his cycling event is August 18 - 19, 2007. Please check back for updates and how to support Keith's cause!

Colombia School Project Completed!

On July 18 Luz Marie, a School Teacher and active community volunteer in a town in Colombia sent the charity a picture of the updated playground that ACCESS Charity funded recently. The young students now have a safe and sheltered place to go in their neighborhood, and somewhere to be when it rains at recess. To learn more about this project, read the articles below on this page.

Donation from St. Jean Brebeuf School

Brampton's St. Jean Brebeuf Elementary School made a donation of $500 to ACCESS from their spring Spirit Week and Bake Sale fundraisers for the charity.

Thank you to Principal Sonia Rotino, who presented the cheque to ACCESS on June 22, 2007 (photo, right).

ACCESS Joins the Facebook Online Social Networking Website

On June 20, 2007 the official "ACCESS Charity" group on Facebook became active. To join the group, you must either have or first create a Facebook profile, and then use the "join group" feature. The group has be listed under the "Organizations - Non-Profit Organizations" category, and will include updated news, initiatives, ongoing discussions about charity work, and a series of updated pictures. We have received a very successful response with over 650 members as of September 2008.

Fair Trade Products

During the summer, Fair Trade products and religious articles will be sold at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church twice a month, according to schedule. Products are sold by the Faith in Action group in the parish.

One of the many product lines includes Cocoa Camino, which is a line of premium Fair Trade Certified and certified organic chocolate, cocoa and sugar products produced by La Siembra Co-operative. La Siembra’s mission is to offer high-quality Fair Trade Certified organic products that improve the livelihoods of family farmers and the well-being of communities at home and abroad.

Support this initiative to ensure that workers in countries such as the Dominican Republic receive fair wages.

Update from Colombia Project

The school in Colombia has sent a thank-you letter to the ACCESS Charity for the funds sent in April. Principal of the school, Miriam Rocio, explained that they are very glad that they will be able to start construction of the recreational patio for kindergarten students, thanks to the money that ACCESS has sent. The school has offered to send us pictures periodically of the development of the project.

Here is an image of the existing school in Itagui, Colombia. Currently, this is the only area in which the kindergarten children have to play.

Charity's Spring Raffle for Colombia

During the week of April 10 - April 13, 2007, ACCESS hosted a Charity Raffle, which was open to the students and staff of St. Marguerite d'Youville Secondary School. Ticket sales were very successful, raising almost $800.00, plus a donation from Student Council. The draw was held on the afternoon of April 13. Congratulations to those who won a prize and thank you to everyone who bought tickets and supported the charity's efforts in Colombia.

Presentation at St. Jean Brebeuf School

A presentation about the ACCESS Charity, Social Justice, and the Dominican Republic took place at St. Jean Brebeuf on Friday, April 13.

Thank you to the the grades 6 - 8 students who participated, asking many questions at St. Jean Brebeuf Elementary School in Brampton. Thank you to the Staff involved in arranging this presentation. Profits from the events in the school's upcoming Spirit Week will be donated to ACCESS.

Random Act of Kindness

April 11, 2007 - A large donation of school supplies was dropped off at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church anonymously.

The items have been delivered to Dr. Simone's warehouse in Mississauga (Canadian Food for Children) and were shipped immediately to the Honduras the following day!

Thank you to the donor for your generous contribution.

Easter Greetings from the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic: The Uniform project continues, based on the availability of uniforms. I have purchased a few for students in a recently-opened school for deaf-mute students, as well as a large purchase for students living in a distant batey. The number of students who have received uniforms is certainly well into the hundreds. I have been involved with 10 schools. May the Resurrected Christ be your source of Hope and Joy! - Sister Catherine O'Shea, Consuelo, Dominican Republic

Our Colombia Classroom Project in the News

In another feature article on TheBramptonNews.com, ACCESS announces its project in Colombia. Click the link to view the article: Building a Classroom in Colombia. To learn about the details of the project, read the posting below.

ACCESS Building School in Colombia!

Since April 2007, ACCESS has been funding the construction of a classroom for kindergarten children in Colombia (see our Country Information page). The classroom is being built as an extension of an existing school in Itagui, in the province of Antioquia, Colombia. The ACCESS Charity, thanks to generous donations and fundraising, is completely funding this project.

The recreational patio is to be used for kindergarten students as a safe place to learn and play. A secondary project, with excess donations, will add toys, decorations, learning activities, and furniture to the ACCESS classroom.

Generally, the government does not supply funding for the school (the government only pays the teachers’ salaries). Therefore there is no budget to build this necessary expansion for the young students. Currently, these young children are forced to remain outdoors even in inclement weather. The dusty environment causes respiratory problems in the children there. This is where ACCESS has stepped in to help.

The project has been coordinated through a teacher in Colombia, based on a request from the Principal (Myriam Rocio Correa Arroyave) which ACCESS has received. Communication with Colombia occurs through a Colombian-born Canadian here in Ontario.

High School Donates Proceeds from Multicultural Night

On March 8 2007, Brampton's St. Marguerite d'Youville high school hosted a very successful Multicultural Night.

Thanks to the generosity of the teachers on the organizing committee, a portion of the proceeds from this event were donated to ACCESS, in the amount of $500.00. This money will go directly towards funding our current classroom building project in Colombia.

Social Justice Presentation

On the evening of Thursday, February 22, 2007, Daniel Francavilla presented at a St. Mary’s Church Justice & Peace Committee gathering, to share experiences in the third world and discuss the organization, ACCESS Charity.

An informative display board was set-up with ACCESS flyers and brochures available.

The evening was part of St. Mary's Church Lenten Reflections for 2007, which included a representative from Dr. Simone's Canadian Food for Children program.

Listed on "Charity Village" Website

As of February, we are pleased to announce that ACCESS has been added to the "CharityVillage® Nonprofit Neighbourhood" online directory. Charity Village's website includes more than 3,000 pages of information and is accessed more than 30 million times a month. It is the leading online source of information, news, jobs, services and resources for the Canadian nonprofit community. Our listing appears below:

ACCESS (International): The goal of ACCESS is to provide needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies, so that they have the opportunity to receive the education required to find decent employment and support their families. Serving the countries of Columbia, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic, we are committed to providing opportunities to impoverished children in the developing world. Listed under CharityVillage® Nonprofit Neighbourhood: International Relief at www.charityvillage.com/cv/nonpr/nonpr9.html.

Donation Received from Agape

ACCESS Charity would like to acknowledge the generosity of the Agape ministry. In December the "Friends of Agape" Brampton group contributed a donation of $3000.00, to fund the projects of ACCESS. This money will be used at the discretion of the Grey Sisters in Consuelo, Dominican Republic to help improve the lives of Dominicans living in poverty on the bateyes.

School Supplies Delivered

This winter, a shipment of school supplies, collected through the ACCESS School Supply Drive in August, have been sent to the Honduras. They will be used to help stock empty schools in the Honduras that are in desperate need of supplies. The organization Canadian Food for Children is currently working in this area and has put the supplies to good use. Canadian Food for Children was able to safely ship the supplies to the Honduras, unlike the difficult shipping situation in the Dominican Republic.

Father Claire Tipping Fundraising

Thank you to the Staff, Students, and Student Council at Father Claire Tipping Elementary School in Brampton, your initiative to help the students of the Dominican Republic. In December 2006, the school raised money through a Jelly Bean guessing contest and donated their profits to the ACCESS Dominican Republic charity. The Student Council helped to organize this initiative to raise funds for the charity, after the school was visited for a presentation about the Dominican Republic exposure trip, informing them of the poverty that exists there today.

Presentation at Fr. Claire Tipping School

Both presentations which took place on the afternoon of Thursday, November 30, 2006 were a great success, due to the cooperation of the students.

Thank you to the the grades 1 - 8 students who participated and asked many questions at Father Claire Tipping Elementary School in Brampton. Thank you to the Staff involved in arranging this presentation.

A Fundraiser for the charity is also being planned by the school's Student Council, which will take place in the near future.

Thank You from the Grey Sisters

Dear Member of ACCESS Dominican Republic:

After gift of $600; sent in September has been forwarded to Sister Catherine O’Shea for the educational needs of students in the Bateyes. That is such a worthy cause! It is so unjust to see children deprived of what is their right and such a joy when they overcome so many obstacles to complete even their primary studies.

Daniel is to be admired for efforts made to raise awareness of the needs. To be admired and thanked, also, are the generous people who responded.

Know of the gratitude of the little people who receive your gift that will change their lives! God’s blessings upon you!

Sincerely,
Susan Daly, Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Pembroke, Ontario

Faith in Action Ministry Contribution

The St. Marguerite d’Youville "Faith in Action Ministry" (Brampton, Ontario) made a contribution of $300 to ACCESS Dominican Republic.

The Faith in Action Ministry is dedicated to introducing Fair Trade products into the Canadian market. They sell items such as Cocoa Camino brand sugar and Fair Trade Certified organic chocolate, which comes from the Dominican Republic – the advantage for this product is that it is made by Dominicans who are being paid fair wages. The promotion of these products is beneficial to many workers in the Dominican Republic because it allows them to receive just wages, instead of sweat-shop and less-than minimum wage pay.

A huge thank you goes out to the people involved in this ministry for their support. For more information about the Cocoa Camino products, visit www.cocoacamino.com.

Successful School Supply Drive

During the month of August 2006, the local community contributed to the ACCESS School Supply Drive. Thousands of items were collected and will be shipped to poverty stricken areas around the world, so that children living in poverty can obtain a better experience and have a chance at education with school supplies. Along with the Supply Drive, the charity raised over $1,200 during the 2 weekends of the drive. Thank you to the community for all of your incredible support.

Teen Cycles 120 Km for Charity

Keith Vaz, a grade eleven student from Brampton, Ontario cycled 120 Km over two days.

On August 14th and 15th, the dedicated teenager rode his bike from Brampton to Guelph, Ontario and back. He did the route alone, although he had the support of dozens of friends an family.

Keith stated, "I just wanted to send the poor children in the Dominican to school...its just such a good cause."

He plans to cycle the route again, making this fundraiser an annual event, and getting more people involved.

School Supply Collection on Brampton.com

The community website Brampton.com has included ACCESS Dominican Republic's August School Supply Drive in its Events Calendar. The School Supply Drive will run from August 19 through September 3, where donations can be dropped off at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church in Brampton. Monetary Donations will also be accepted towards the charity. More information, including a list of items, is available on the Upcoming Events page.

Article in the Brampton Guardian

On Friday July 14, 2006, an article about ACCESS has been included in the Lifestyle & People section of The Brampton Guardian in their Weekend issue. The article is based on an interview with Daniel Francavilla with quotes from school chaplain Tony Whelan and Father Wayne Manne. It explains the work of the charity and how it got started.

» Unlikely Hero to the Rescue [Full Story]
By Shawn Lawrence | The Brampton Guardian | Saturday July 15, 2006
In a time when the world needs heroes, 15 year-old Brampton resident Daniel Francavilla heard the call. The St. Marguerite D'Youville student recently created a unique charity, the sole function of which is to bring aid to less fortunate children living in the Dominican Republic by providing them school uniforms and other supplies.

Article about ACCESS in The Catholic Register

On Friday June 30 2006, an article about Daniel Francavilla's involvement in ACCESS was printed in The Catholic Register. The article was entitled "Poverty moves student to action", and is also available online. The article talks about what Daniel witnessed while in the Dominican Republic and how he was inspired to help out.

Youth Speak News » Poverty Moves Student to Action
By Sara Loftson | The Catholic Register | Friday June 30, 2006
June 30, 2006: Starting a charity for children in the developing world is not an average pastime for most young people. Daniel Francavilla is not your average youth.

Presentation at St. Charles Garnier School

On Wednesday June 28, 2006 St. Charles Garnier Elementary School in Mississauga, Ontario was visited by guest-speaker Daniel Francavilla. As this was the second-last day of school, it was the last presentation of the school year. The presentation focused on the theme of Social Justice, relating to the situation in the Dominican Republic. The presentation, discussing the events of the Dominican Republic Exposure Trip, was seen by the school's grades four through eight students. Many of the students showed interest and asked important questions. Special thank-you to the Principal who invited Daniel to speak at his school.

Our Lady of Providence School Presentation

On Friday June 23, 2006, Daniel Francavilla and Michael Onabolu presented to the grade seven and eight students of Our Lady of Providence Elementary School in Brampton.

The name of the school Our Lady of Providence is interestingly tied to the Dominican Republic, because one of the local schools started by the Grey Sisters in Consuelo, Dominican Republic is called Divina Providencia, meaning Divine Providence. These both refer to the same person.

The presentation included background information about the Dominican Republic, a slideshow of the Dominican Republic Exposure Experience, video clips, followed by questions and an introduction to ACCESS. Thank you to the teachers who arranged this presentation and to the students who helped set up.

Family Raises Money for ACCESS

Siblings Bianca and Christian Malatesta, students at Robert J. Lee Public School, were inspired to do something themselves to help the children of the Dominican Republic, after learning about the exposure trip.

These two students decided to host a cookie bake sale for the teachers at their school (Robert J. Lee, Brampton). It took a family effort, with their father baking and their mother helping to sell, to raise $90. In addition to this fundraiser, these two determined students wanted to give more money, and were generous enough to donate the money they received as gifts for Easter.

Combined with their God sister Katarina’s gift money, the three students raised a total of $400 to donate to ACCESS. This donation is much appreciated and these students and their parents are to be admired for their generosity and dedication to helping children become educated. Thank you!

Charity featured on TheBramptonNews.com

On Monday, June 19, 2006 an article about ACCESS was included on TheBramptonNews.com, an online news source for all the news in and around Brampton, Ontario. The article was featured on their homepage under the Featured Articles section.

Featured Articles » Brampton Student Starts Charity...$8,500 Raised
By Community Notes | Published June 19 | Community News
Daniel Francavilla, a grade 10 student from Brampton, started a charitable organization called ACCESS - "Allowing Children a Chance at Education with School Supplies" after traveling to the Dominican Republic in early 2006 for a Dominican Republic Exposure Experience. $8,500 has been raised so far.

Money Presented to Grey Sisters

On May 14, 2006, a cheque of $8,000 was presented to the Grey Sisters (from Pembroke, Ontario) at St. Marguerite d'Youville Church in Brampton.

The money will be sent directly to the Dominican Republic, where the Grey Sisters are stationed. There, it will be distributed it accordingly, making use of 100% of the funds to provide school uniforms for the children of the bateyes.

The Grey Sisters are also stationed in Consuelo, Dominican Republic, and work closely with several schools on and around the poor bateyes.

Successful Presentation at Superintendent's Meeting

On April 15th, 2006 I was given the honour to present at a meeting held at Accession of Our Lord Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. The presentation included the homily previously presented at St. Marguerite d’Youville church as well as pictures of the people of Dominican Republic. In attendance were the administrators and other staff of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, who were exposed to the Dominican Republic trip experience. This served as an excellent source of exposure for ACCESS and for the needs that are present in the Dominican Republic.

Grade 3 Class Donates Uniform

After listening to a brief talk about the experiences of the Dominican Republic Exposure Program, a grade three class took the initiative to make a contribution. After being made aware of the poverty that exists in the world, Mrs. Fernendes and her third grade class at Our Lady of Providence Elementary School raised enough money to purchase a uniform for one child in the Dominican Republic. Congratulations on your efforts and thank you!

Speech & Collection at St. Marguerite d’Youville Church

During the weekend of March 4th and 5th, 2006, Daniel made a 15 minute verbal and visual presentation at all Masses. A collection was set up for the parishioners and community after each of the five masses. Members and visitors of St. Marguerite d’Youville Church in Brampton, Ontario contributed over $8300 to ACCESS, for school uniforms in the Dominican Republic. Thank you to all of the amazing people who donated!