Fraser Woods Students Support Alternative Gifts International

Ask a middle school student at Fraser Woods Montessori School what it feels like to make a difference in the lives of 2,200 people and the response is likely to be a warm smile.

In the spirit of the holidays, middle school-aged students raised money for Alternative Gifts International (AGI), a central collection group for several charities worldwide.

The intent of AGI is to empower people in crisis, restoring the environment, and building peace in the global community. The project offered the opportunity to make a donation in a friend or loved one’s name and receive an information card about that charity to give to that person in lieu of a gift.

From more than 30 charities, Fraser Woods students selected to focus on Medicine Box/Global, Children of the Street/India, Rescue an Orphan/China, and Free Wheelchairs/China. One of the students had spent time in India and had seen children living on the streets in railway stations and markets. The students believed “we could all understand” the need for simple life saving medicines and wheelchairs.

In addition to learning more about the world and raising money for those in need, they also managed to secure food, shelter, health care, and education for 69 Delhi children, provide wheelchairs for nine people in China, get lifesaving medicine to 1,831 people for two–three months, and supplement care for 41 Chinese orphans.