Ten Ugandan teens could be heading to high school as early as this winter after Highland Secondary School’s Class of 2010 exceeded its goal for its ‘10 for 10 legacy project.

The ‘10 for 10 project — in which the Class of 2010 hoped to raise $12,000 to get 10 Ugandans through four years of high school with the help of Africa Community Technical Service (ACTS) — raised more than $13,000.

“It feels unreal,” project organizer Anika Barlow said this weekend after learning they had accomplished their goal. “There were definitely points when I doubted we could make it, and I think there were some students who were doubting, even the principal.”

Barlow is excited she and her classmates pulled off such an ambitious project.

“It feels really good,” she said. “At the beginning of the year, I was frustrated by the lack of action in our school; everyone seemed apathetic. We have an opportunity to do something in high school. I think lots of times, people don’t set high enough expectations. People have such low expectations of teenagers … so I thought let’s change their minds.”

Barlow first came up with the idea of sponsoring Ugandan students after attending a global issues symposium last fall.

“I didn’t have a solid idea, but I thought ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we did a legacy project that involved education so we could pass on this gift?’” she said.

She spoke to a few people about her idea and presented it to the grad committee, and everyone was very supportive.

Barlow and grad committee co-chair Michelle Spelay made a presentation about ‘10 for 10 to Comox council in February, and after articles appeared in the newspapers, people started calling Highland to offer assistance.

Spelay is thrilled the Class of 2010 exceeded its target.

“(It feels) really, really good because we had a lot of people think we couldn’t do it,” she said. “It was nice to show we could because we really cared about it.

“A lot of times, when people think of high school kids, people think we’re lazy, partying, unmotivated; it’s nice to show what we can do,” she added.

Spelay believes she will feel proud when she looks back on this year and this project.

“I’ll feel really happy I didn’t waste all the opportunity you get in high school to change things,” she said. “I’ll always be glad I started early; it means so much to me now … it shows me anything I want to do when I get older, I can do it.”

ACTS has field workers in Uganda who specialize in education and who will look for five girls and five boys to benefit from the ‘10 for 10 funding.

Spelay and Barlow want to say thank you to everyone who helped make ‘10 for 10 a success.

“We need to thank the whole community,” said Barlow. “It was just as much them as it was us.”

Barlow thought it was neat to see École Robb Road Elementary and the Comox Valley Christian School come up with their own fundraisers to help out the ‘10 for 10 project.

“So many people approached us to help,” said Spelay. “It was nice to show you can make a difference. Just the fact we surpassed our goal, it’s unbelievable. Anika and I have been working on this since the beginning, and both of us put so much of ourselves into it, it was nice to see everyone else in the Comox Valley do that too.”

Barlow, who is working at ACTS, and Spelay, who is studying at the University of Victoria, both hope to go to Uganda one day to see firsthand what impact the legacy project is having.

“I just think it would be so cool to meet the kids,” said Barlow. “I’d like to take pictures of them and hear their dreams and bring them back to our grad class so they can make that connection.”

’10 for 10

The Goal

To see 10 Ugandan students reach graduation by funding 4 years of high school tuition for each.

The Cost

Approximately $12 000, channelled through the local organization, ACTS (African Community Technical Service).

The Reward

Highland leaves a lasting legacy and gains a sister school abroad; changed students on 2 continents.

How You Can Help

We are looking for generous individual and businesses who would partner with us and leave a legacy of their own. In the coming weeks, we will be fundraising through projects in our school and in the community. You are invited to join with ’10 for 10 and show your support in a variety of ways. We are seeking donors as well as those who would match our fundraising efforts up to their pre-determined limit, and thereby double the impact we can have. All those who rally behind this project will be recognized in the community as our sponsors.