Service-Learning Projects Funded By the Dara Fund

The following projects have been funded through the Dara Fund:

 

Addressing Causes of School Dropouts
Twin Cities Community Development Corporation – Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Grades: 5-12

Students organized and led a conference to raise awareness about the root causes of school dropouts in their community.

Celebrating Diversity
Old Town High School – Old Town, Maine
Grades: 9-12

Students organized and led a conference focused on addressing myths and biases associated with various cultures, races, religions, socio-economic statuses, disabilities and sexualities.

Composting Site
King Middle School – Portland, Maine
Grades: 6-8

Students purchased and used a rotary composter to compost school food waste for the school’s community gardens.

Creating a School Play
Wequonnoc Elementary School – Norwich, Connecticut
Grades: 3-5

Students addressed social skills and peer pressure issues by creating and performing a play to educate others.

Dangerous Games
Lyman Moore Middle School – Portland, Maine
Grade: 8

Students created and distributed brochures with information about dangerous games young people play, including “The Chocking Game” and “Chubby Bunny”.

Developing Countries
Thetford Academy – Thetford, Vermont
Grades: 7-12

Students researched problems facing developing countries and then created educational brochures to raise community awareness about the problems.

Leave No Trace
J.A. Leonard Middle School – Old Town, Maine
Grade: 6

Students created posters and a video to educate Acadia National Park visitors how to “leave no trace” while they enjoy the beauty of the Park.

Multicultural Exhibit
Boys and Girls Club of Lake Region – Laconia, New Hampshire
Grades: 9-12

Students prepared and exhibited a multicultural display at their community’s Annual Multicultural Market Day.

Outdoor Classroom
Vergennes Union Elementary School – Vergennes, Vermont
Grades: 3-5

Students revitalized an outdoor classroom.

Planting Trees
McCathy-Towne School – Acton, Massachusetts
Grade: 4

Students purchased and planted 100 seedling Evergreen Trees to improve the environment in their community.

Reading Buddies
Mildred L. Day School - Arundel, Maine
Grades: 4-5

Students developed a reading buddy system with the K-2 Team of teachers and read selected books with their buddies.

Restoring and Preserving “The Pines”
Madison Area Memorial High School – Madison, Maine
Grade: 11

Students restored and preserved “The Pines” – a Wabanaki Nation historical area – for the community to access and enjoy.

River Clean-Up
Boys and Girls Club of the White River Valley – White River Junction, Vermont
Grades: 5-8

Students participated in an annual clean-up of the Connecticut River and increased community awareness about littering and recycling through posters and t-shirts.

Snack Shack
The Winchester School – Winchester, New Hampshire
Grades: 6-8

Students developed and ran a snack shack to improve their school’s game room – a safe, fun space for students to socialize after school.

Speak Out for Understanding
Harwood Union High School – South Duxbury, Vermont
Grades: 9-12

In order to raise awareness and tolerance for people with varying abilities, students created a video documenting personal stories of individuals with disabilities.

Summer Reading
Gorham High School – Gorham, Maine
Grade: 9

Students recorded a children’s book on audiocassette and gave the cassette and book to local 1st grade students to help prevent summer-related reading ability decline.

Town Video
Toddy Pond School – Belfast, Maine
Grades: K-8

Students created a video highlighting Belfast’s history, traditions, and positive attributes to assist the town’s strategic marketing plans.

Wetlands Protection
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School – South Hadley, Massachusetts
Grades: 9-12

Students cleaned-up and planted native plants along a local watershed to help prevent erosion and intrusive destruction.