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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 13, 2012 · 14 By Nathan Howes SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Teachers working for the summer in Africa For Jessica and Jonathan Gardner, being a teacher doesn't stop for the summer just because school is out. The Oakville residents are heading to Kenya on July 19 to help build a school as part of a volunteer service trip for Africa Yoga Project (AYP) -- a non-profit organization providing innovative programs and support for opportunities to learn and contribute across the communities of East Africa. "Using what you have to help others goes along with my philosophy and what I teach my students -- that one person can make a difference," said Jessica. "It's a real sense of community helping those go to school. That's very close to my heart as a teacher." Jessica and her husband, who both teach in Mississauga, committed to raising $5,000 each as part of the "Seva Safari." To raise funds, a family block party was held recently at Power Yoga Canada (PYC), which brought in close to $4,200 and put them over their $10,000 pledge. "I want to go because I have a love of education, a love of learning and a love of school. It's been a dream of mine to help build a school. The time worked out great because we're off," said Jessica. STEVEN DER-GARABEDIAN / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER photog YOGA POWER: Jessica and Jonathan Gardner keep their balance last Sunday afternoon at Power Yoga Canada during a fundraising block party. The husband-and-wife team will be heading to Africa to build a school, while this event aimed to assist in their goal of raising $10,000. Some of the other donations came from a fundraiser held at Jessica's school earlier this year after she told her students about the trip. "They came up with the idea of the Kenya help market. They showed up with so many things they had made (that) they were going to sell," said Jessica. "Some of my students donated pens, pencils and clothes for me to take. "They (also) came up with a lip-sync dance, which turned into a flash mob in the gym to promote the market," she added. Jessica expected to raise around $200, but when she saw the amount exceed $1,000, she was "so excited and overwhelmed," she said. Her students raised the money in three hours. "They ran to their locker and started getting more money. It moved me to tears to see their investment in this and how much they really valued what we were doing together," said Jessica. "I've been teaching for 10 years and that doesn't happen very often." After the event, Jessica was approached by one of her students who said to her, "I always wanted to be the change and now I am." "It was really quite amazing, the good See New page 22 THIRD ANNUAL Hope Light lunch for all participants Lunch sponsored by Halton Women's Place Healthy Relationships Healthy Communities your source for FREE coupons IN HIGH HEELS NEW! Now you can PRINT coupons at home Men walking to end violence against women Sunday September 9th ­ Boston Pizza 270 North Service Road West, Oakville OR Saturday September 15th ­ Emma's Back Porch 2084 Old Lakeshore Road, Burlington Men -- the shoes WILL fit! Register at www.haltonwomensplace.com 10am registration 11 am walk Call Carm Bozzo, Development Mgr Print your Buitoni® Coupon NOW! Quite possibly the best pizza ever! For exclusive offers: facebook.com/savedotca a division of cbozzo@haltonwomensplace.com Sponsored by Graphic Design by Delphinium Design delphinium.ca Printing by Digital Edge Printing digitaledgeservices.ca Advertisng sponsored by metroland.com 905-332-1200 ext. 222 and communications inc.