Social Action: Students Against Landmines

Who Said Kids Can't Make a Difference?

Did you know that every 22 minutes someone is killed or maimed by a landmine? Did you know that it's mostly civilians, often children, who accidentally step on a landmine after a war has ended. Landmines do not recognize peace treaties or cease fires. Landmines do not distinguish between the step of a soldier and that of a woman or child gathering firewood.

On Dec. 4, 1997 in Ottawa, Canada 122 countries signed the Global Ban on Landmines Treaty in which they promised to ban the making, selling, using or stockpiling of landmines. This is wonderful but the biggest job is still ahead. It is estimated that there are about 110 million active mines scattered in 68 countries. They need to be removed. How could kids help? How could they make a difference? Some students decided that they could.

The Grade 4/5/6 students of the Program for Gifted Learners at St. Elizabeth School in Ottawa, Canada have joined students from 15 schools around the world in the United Nations-sponsored Schools Demining Schools project. In their local communities students run landmine awareness campaigns and organize fund raising activities. The funds are used to help rid school grounds of landmines in Afghanistan and Mozambique. That's how Students against Landmines got started in Ottawa.

Ali shares his landmines
project with his classmtes. Terrific work!

Jen is ready to teach other
students about the dangers of landmines.
Super job!

The main fundraising activity has been the designing, making and selling of buttons. The Students Against Landmines logo that you can see on this page was used for the button. On Tuesday, December 2, 1997 the students received special guests. Ms. Nane Annan, wife of the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Her Excellency Diana Fowler LeBlanc, wife of Governor-General Romeo LeBlanc and Ms. Mary Fowler, an expert on landmines from the United Nations came to St. Elizabeth School to talk with students about landmines.

Mrs. Nane Annan watching buttons made..

Celebrating the signing of the landmine treaty

Students celebrating the signing of the
Global Ban on Landmines Treaty.

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