Americans Can Be Taught to Help Others

I know for a fact that Americans can learn to help people in other countries. I am fortunate to work in an elementary school where each grade level works on a specific cause to help other people less fortunate than us each year.

In our fourth grade science curriculum, the children study the water cycle. The children learned how water is purified by the water company in our area, and they were also taught that not everyone in the world has safe drinking water.This past year our grade level collected money for families in Africa so that they would be able to have clean drinking water. The year before we raised money for Heifer International, and we were able to provide a heifer (young female cow) for a family in Africa. Also, our school had a clothing drive, and we collected gently used clothing and new school supplies for school children in the Dominican Republic and also in Peru.

By educating our youth about needy people in our country and in other countries, they learn compassion for others. Our school's humanitarian efforts start in kindergarten and by fifth grade, we hope that the children will continue to support causes that help make the world a better place.