20 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday November 28, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com East Oakville students walk in Mexican shoes Continued from page 16 made dinner -- with no electricity or running water -- for the volunteers, staff and local children at a health centre located in an impoverished neighbourhood of the town. The following day, they visited a volunteer-run centre to give aid to homeless adults. Students were also charged with the difficult task impoverished Mexican families face daily -- they had a practical lesson in managing to feed a family on a meagre daily income of $5 while ensuring enough money was set aside for hydro, school fees and water. The students shopped at a local grocery store and bargained at a market in Nogales. "Our meals for that day were very meagre," said Tough. The group of students now understand that many children in Mexico go without education because earning money is a far more pressing need for their family. Such desperation often displaces children from their parents, siblings "They do not have the basic necessities of life such as clean water, proper clothing and medical services." Rosemary Tough, E.J. James teacher and extended families. "They do not have the basic necessities of life such as clean water, proper clothing and medical services," said Tough. The experience has inspired more activism at E.J. James. "Next we plan on ordering fair trade coffee from the centres we visited and selling it at our school as well as starting a social issues club to raise awareness of the problems that families have in other countries, especially children," said Tough. "My students have definitely been impacted by this journey with a new sense of understanding, sensitivity and purpose," said Tough. "It was an amazing experience." Be a Mentor (We need you NOW) Be a Champion To yourself To your Mentee To your Community To your Industry (Its only 6 hours for 4 months Flexibility to schedule) Call: Antony Vadakkanchery Halton Mentoring Partnership Program (905) 845-9430 ext 8134 Antony.vadakkanchery@sheridaninstitute.ca Discover how you can recoup your lost tax dollars... We invite you to join us for a Free Dinner and Seminar. Monday, December 3rd at 6:30PM GLEN ABBEY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB OAKVILLE, ONTARIO Wealth is just that simple! Call 1-888-748-5911 To Reserve Your Place