A photo from last year's TDSB Student GuluWalk

A few weeks ago I visited Angus Morrison Elementary School in Angus, Ontario to talk to an enthusiastic group of grade eight students who had been learning about child soldiers in Africa for the past month. I made a presentation about GuluWalk to a pair of classes that day, and, I have to say, I was left with a feeling of wonder at how aware, engaged and intelligent these students truly are. As I told one of my colleagues when I returned to the office, there’s no way I was anywhere near where they are at the same age.

What was particularly interesting about this school—aside, of course, from how deeply interested its students were in Africa—is that their school board has invested in technology that allows them to connect remotely and converse with other people through a video link. When Geoffrey York, the Globe and Mail’s Africa bureau chief, was in Toronto, they used this technology to bring him into their classroom to talk about his own experiences. It’s exciting both to see young people already so interested in global issues and to know that there are ever-improving ways to engage them on so many different levels.

Being the kind of excitable, passionate and concerned citizens that these 13-year olds are, it’s no surprise that after the presentation they immediately expressed interest in participating in the Toronto District School Board Student GuluWalk in April—perhaps even starting their own student walk in Angus (a small town west of Barrie)! They also want to spread the word to other schools and galvanize grassroots support in their area.

In the days following, one of their teachers contacted me. Here’s what she said:

“Thanks again so much for making the trip “up north” yesterday. Your presentation was very inspirational to the students and teachers alike! As a result of your presentation, the students have unanimously decided that they would like to participate in the GuluWalk on April 29th. Several of them have also expressed interest in forming a “student delegation” that visits other schools around the county and presents others with information about child soldiers and promotes the GuluWalk on the 29th. It is their hope that they can take what they have learned and pass it on to others. Hopefully other schools around the county will catch the “hype” and want to join in as well.”

–Kieran Hayward, GuluWalk co-founder & director of programs and finance at Athletes for Africa