Easton to Uganda
Applicant: Karen Woodford, SSES Teacher
Target Population: 2nd Grade Students
Content Area of Project: Language Arts and Social Studies
Amount of Grant: $1,000 in 2006
The superintendents of Connecticut received an invitation from The Memory Project for students to make story books for kids in war-torn Uganda. Children in Uganda live with the danger and sorrow of war daily, and sleep in shelters or on city streets at night. The Memory Project seeks to get writing or art classes to make story books containing beautiful artwork and calming text for the children to look at before going to sleep. 
Since Easton is a safe, pleasant community to live in where our children live their lives without the immediate threats of war or danger, Mrs. Woodford wanted to give the students an opportunity to help others.
Mrs. Woodford wanted to provide her students with the opportunity of an informational chat with a real author who would outline the process of creating books including the writing, illustration, and publication process. This author, Jennifer Thermes, also came back to read their work, giving the children constructive advice, praise, and criticism during the process. The ELF grant awarded to Mrs. Woodford allowed her to hire Mrs. Thermes to visit the children.
