![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
Coins rattle around in a tin can. Footsteps travel around the classroom. These are the sounds of PSA members rushing to collect all the Change 4 Change cans during lunch.
The club Peace and Service for Africa (PSA) holds a fundraiser every year called Change 4 Change. The fundraiser aims to raise money for people in Africa who do not have enough money for supplies and uniforms to go to school. First started by two students 22 years ago, PSA is a club that raises awareness about different cultures and lifestyles from a global perspective and to raise money for orphaned students in Kenya. They also work with the International Peace Initiative to eliminate poverty through education. Change 4 Change strives to raise money for a child’s education and uniforms. This year, before they started counting coins they had raised $1,244 in cash alone.
Justelle Grandsaert, one of the teacher sponsors for PSA has been raising money for the International Peace Initiative for 19 years. This year they are raising funds for a girl named Beatrice.
“Being able to pay for her to go to school is huge, especially for women because if you can’t afford a uniform you can’t go to school there,” Grandstaert said.
Education is key; it provides people with important knowledge so they can prevent or escape situations such as poverty or corruption.
In classes, students are reminded of the fundraiser but what matters is if they donate. Motivated to donate is one thing, but so is remembering to donate is another.
Alex Payton, a freshman at Silver Creek High School donated during her English class with Jason Lathrop.
“[Lathrop] advertised one [of the fundraisers] in his classroom.” Payton said. “I also found out about it when some seniors came to talk about it in my advisory.”
Along with the announcements, constant reminders and advertisements. What really makes people want to donate is food. Some teachers advertise the fundraiser, and some even set competitions to get more donations. Lathrop ended up giving the winning class of the donation doughnuts. It creates a fun reminder to donate, and also allows for more donations.
Olivia Bowman, a junior at Silver Creek High School has been taking part in PSA since her freshman year.
“[We would like to] raise as much money as we can because it’s going to a good cause. And just school is important,” Bowman said.
The more money raised, the more money that can be spent to send kids to school.
The fundraiser aims to raise $500 for Beatrice this year. They have already raised more than enough money, surpassing the expectations.
Though they made a lot of money, it is not a perfect world.
Senior Sydney Holcomb, the President of PSA, does tons of work for the club. This can be from running social media to running the fundraiser.
“[In a] perfect world, we would be able to raise enough money to fund whole schools,” Holcomb said.
Though this is not possible at the moment, the fundraiser still makes a huge difference in all the students' lives.
Education is power, and this fundraiser aims to empower these students by providing them with the things needed to get a proper education.
