Students at DaVinci House, Renaissance Academy Didn't Just Learn About Hunger... They Learned How to Make A Difference

Students of the DaVinci House at Renaissance Academy received a visit from Tim Cunnings of the St Francis Inn in Kensington. Tim came to say "thank you" to the students for helping the guests of this very special soup kitchen. Lily Wolf, a fifth grade student, reflects, " I hope that one day I could help at the St. Francis Inn because I like the way they welcome all people and serve them."

The students started investigating the realities of hunger in June of last year, and continued to do different types of activities every quarter to take action on what they were learning.

The third through fifth grade children have been engaged in learning activities across curriculum that enlightened the students to hunger in the community and around the world. In writing, each student wrote a persuasive essay to explain where the money that was being raised should go. In geography, they studied the areas where hunger is most prevalent. In math, they graphed rates of child fatalities caused by hunger. And in health, the students learned about the effects hunger has on your body.

As a result of their studies, the students decided to take action and raised funds to help people who suffer from the effects of hunger everyday. The students made ceramics bowls, which were sold at a family dinner before the 2003 holidays. They raised $822, which was split between a local soup kitchen, The St. Francis Inn at Kensington and an international hunger organization, Budu Liberian Refugee Children Project, which serves the basic needs of Liberian refugees.

The children in the DaVinci House, at Renaissance Academy, not only learned about the reality of hunger but also learned that they have the power to make a difference.

Contact Information: Renaissance Academy – Edison Charter School 1500 Township Line Road Phoenixville, PA 19460 Phone: 610-983-4080 Fax; 610-983-4096