Poverty Moves Student to Action |
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By Sara Loftson
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.
Francavilla, 16, started a charity called ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education with School Supplies after spending one week in January in the Dominican Republic on a school trip with four classmates and his school chaplain.
"It was the children that were swarming us for paper and pens and candy, but we weren't allowed to (give them anything) or else they'd keep on coming back. These kids aren't even going to have a future and I wanted to do something about that," said Francavilla, a Grade 10 student St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Secondary School in Brampton.
Upon return Fr. Wayne Manne, pastor at St. Marguerite d'Youville parish, asked Francavilla to give a 15 minute presentation about his experience during the homily to parishioners at all Masses March 4 and 5.
Francavilla spoke about how he witnessed the poverty on the Bateys, isolated communities built around the sugar cane industry, and they saw the the division between rich and poor in the capital city Santo Domingo.
"I wanted to experience being outside of your comfort zone because I was told that's the only way you can grow," said Francavilla.
Following the Mass he took up a collection for underprivileged children in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. The money is going to buy school uniforms and school supplies for the children, who would not otherwise be allowed to attend school. The collection raised more than $8,500. Since this is an unregistered charity the parish has created a fund within its budget to manage the donations.
In May Francavilla presented a cheque for $8,000 to the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Pembroke, Ont., who then forwarded the money to its chapter in the Dominican Republic. The sisters in the Dominican Republic use the money to purchase the goods locally.
"Education is the key. It gives them hope. I just want to open up the possibilities for them because we take education for granted here. A lot kids are complaining about going to school, there they would do anything to go to school," said Francavilla.
Francavilla plans to make his presentation at other parishes and schools in the fall. In August, the parish may do a school supply drive and a 25-hour famine on behalf of ACCESS.
While school chaplain Tony Whelan encourages Francavilla's initiative, he doesn't want him or his classmates to lose perspective.
"The original intent was about us to be challenged personally to simplify and I think that Daniel was moved to give and to make change and that's a good thing," said Whelan. "But at the same time I really hope also that people who came on the trip will simplify and work for systemic change."
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