Children Against Mines Program

At the NCCSS Conference in February we kicked off a service-learning campaign in North Carolina schools to raise $20,000 for a mine detecting dog. The money raised will pay for the purchase and training of a dog that will be deployed in areas of the world where landmines are a hazard to adults and children. Each year thousands of children are maimed or killed by landmines left in the wake of war. A mine detecting dog can save thousands of lives in the region it is deployed.

The CHAMPS Kids program is part of the Marshall Legacy Institute. That organization will facilitate collecting donations and the purchase and deployment of the dog. We anticipate that the North Carolina-sponsored dog, “Tarheel” will be out saving lives and preventing injuries by next year.

So, how can yours school participate in this service-learning project?

1. Visit the CHAMPS Kids website at http://www.champskids.org/ for project details. Links on the website can lead you to more information on the Marshall Legacy Institute .
2. Raise money and donate to support the North Carolina campaign. The CHAMPS Kids website has a link to the North Carolina campaign. The direct link is: http://www.champskids.org/get_involved/campaigns_usa/NC/northCarolina.html.
3. Need more information? Contact Janet McElfresh to find out how her middle school in Gates County is participating. Her email is janet_mcelfresh@yahoo.com.

Help North Carolina sponsor a dog and help the children of the world.