BEVERLY — From writing letters to orphans in South Africa to selling bracelets to support indigenous women in Uganda, middle-schoolers in Landmark's Girls Around the Globe class are making a world of difference.
"They get it," professor Freddie Pare said. "It's helping them realize things are a lot different in other parts of the world."
The course includes 10 middle school and five elementary school students and helps them understand what's happening continents away, through the eyes of other kids.
"When it's adults and you're a kid, it's kind of hard to relate," said Summer Kelley, 12, of Billerica. They've been working on a variety of projects to help people around the world.
Recently, the group found out the orphanage in South Africa received their letters and gifts and were eager to see what the children would write back. Serafina Rogers, 12, of Newburyport made matching bracelets and sent one to her pen pal.
"So I have a bracelet that someone else has around the world," she said.
Jewelry has been big, and through the organization Beads for Life they raised more than $200 for women in Uganda, who make beads out of recycled magazines.
"They live in poverty," Summer said. "With Beads for Life, they can have a house, and health care. Their kids can go to school, and they can have the things they need."
They also got the whole school involved in making more than 500 bracelets for a school in Nicaragua through H20 for Life, a nonprofit committed to providing students with clean drinking water. To see what life could be like, the Landmark kids practiced carrying a bucket full of water around the parking lot.
"I can't imagine myself lugging water everyday," said Linnea Janes, 12, of Hamilton. "Or not being able to show my face."
She was surprised to find out that is still in the case in many parts of the world while reading "The Breadwinner," which chronicles the life of a young girl living in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Some scenes are graphic, enough to "make you a little queasy," said Eliza Wildes, 12, of Groveland. But she'd rather hear it how it is.
"I think it's good," she said. "Then when we're adults, it's not a big shocker. This is real life, and it's going on, and it should be stopped."
To support the program Barakat, they also organized a "dress-down day" at Landmark and raised more than $700 to send 17 girls from Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to school for one year.
But what's so great, Pare said, is everything they've done has been initiated by the girls themselves.
"They just keep coming up with these ideas," she said. "I'm like, 'OK, let's do it.' I just run with them."
It helps them build confidence and lets them know they can accomplish anything, she said.
Like Australian Jessica Watson, 16, the youngest girl to attempt to sail solo around the world. The girls have been following Jessica's progress through her blog, and it led to a discussion about what adventures they're interested in.
"I want to ski down Mount Everest," Eliza said.
"I want to go to either Africa or South America to teach," Summer said. "I think everyone deserves an education."
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salemnews.com.
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