A teacher saw the need of students in her classroom and gave them an innovative way to help give back to their classmates.
Johannesburg, South Africa – An apple exchange is a smart way to prevent children from going hungry in the classroom and teach a valuable lesson in sharing and kindness. Ane Potgieter, a teacher from Dalmondeor Primary, placed a basket on her desk and encouraged the children to place lunch items they didn’t want or need in the basket.
Then, children could help themselves to a snack, which would prevent hunger in her classroom. After the first day, every morsel of food had been gobbled up by hungry children. The next day, her basket was once again filled with food items and eaten by children in need.
Now, each day, the basket helps feed children who are hungry.
“She has put a basket in front of her office and the children are allowed to put any food in there they wish that is still edible.
For example, some days mom makes a lunch they don’t like, put it in there and any child that is hungry, any child that feels like an Apple (or anything else in there), they can help themselves.
In the first week children contributed and the residual food was all eaten. This way all school children pay it forward.
She says she has various school children in her class who come from children’s homes, and honestly, it’s not them that struggle with lunch at school but the kids with parents who struggle.” – Grant Gilmer
The basket system is working and is so clever; we think every school should introduce the concept. Classmates helping classmates is the perfect lesson in giving back and doing one small thing.
What do you think of the idea?
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