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TYRONE -- Students at Kings Academy in Tyrone recently aided the people of Belize, a Caribbean country on the northeastern coast of Central America.
The school's 50 students recently collected 700 blankets in September.
Head of School Sarah Lauder said a big part of the curriculum is presenting students with problems and empowering them to find solutions or ways to help.
"We posed the issue of some people who live in Belize being cold at night due to lack of warm housing and blankets," she said.
Students spent time in groups researching Belize and learning about its culture, climate, food and languages and asked about doing a blanket drive.
"We showed them the ministry Sowing Seeds in Belize and their blanket drive which collects and ships blankets to Belize every fall," Lauder said.
On Sept. 28, the founders of Sowing Seeds in Belize and Pastors Sharon and Victor Hernandez from Belize spoke at Kings Academy.
"Living and serving in Southern Belize, we see first hand the need for blankets when temperatures become chilly during December to February. The amazing efforts of the 50 Kings Academy students who collected 700 blankets, will allow Sowing Seeds in Belize to distribute one to every adult, teen and child in one entire village," said co-founders Eric and Cindy Noel.
As part of the effort, the students learned geography and social studies, goal setting, long-term planning, how to calculate a budget, how to find the best deal to make the biggest impact within their budget.
"They used team-building skills in working with each other to plan, organize, implement and see through this project," Lauder said.
The blanket drive was the first of many mission projects for Kings Academy.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.