Kindergarten Raises $1000 for Heifer International

During the course of the year, the students learned about social justice through reading books such as "Beatrice's Goat." They then brainstormed fundraising projects and collected money through doing chores and holding lemonade sales.

The students raised just over $1000, which will buy eight goats for families through Heifer International, a charity organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities.

The year-long project culminated in a party that included re-reading the story "Beatrice's Goat," a true-life story about a girl in Uganda who is gifted a goat that affords her the opportunity to go to school. Beatrice Birra not only graduated from high school, but went on to college and a master's degree.  She now works for Heifer International in New York City.

During their party, students also Skyped with Cindy Sellers Roach of Heifer International, and received a visit from ninth grader Egypt Ali, who spoke about a service week she spent at Heifer International when she was in middle school.

One of the highlights of the culminating celebration was tasting goats milk and meeting two goats that belong to Hawken parents James and Miriam Willis.

This is the second year kindergarteners have conducted the Goat Project, a job well done with the support of their teachers and the Hawken community.

Watch a video that summarizes the service project.