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http://enewspaper.makemynewspaper.com/raymondmiller878/the-lebanon-local-november-issue-2016

Alexa's goal--to help less fortunate students in Africa

Earlier this year Lebanon Berry teacher, Alison Mount, introduced her class to the book "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park. This book raised awareness about the lack of clean drinking water in Sudan.   Alexa Lane, a fifth-grade student at Berry Intermediate school took her social studies teacher's lesson to heart and the situation got Alexa thinking about the lack of other resources that might make learning difficult for students.  For her 11th birthday party, instead of gifts, Alexa asked her guests to bring school supplies for Develop Africa, a not-for-profit organization that promotes educational development in Africa by gathering educational resources and directing the donation of school supplies and/or monetary donations to need African schools.   

"Every year I am so excited to go shopping for school supplies and it makes me sad to think that kids around the world don't get to go shopping and may not have a pencil to spare," Alexa says.

Alexa researched online and chose Develop Africa based on her school lesson.  Her friends were more than happy to help and together they compiled a generous donation of backpacks, crayons, colored pencils, markers, notebooks, rulers, pencils, folders, pocket dictionaries, glue sticks, erasers, and scissors.

Alexa hopes to bring awareness to the Cincinnati area and to motivate other individuals and groups to donate to help make a more meaningful classroom experience for less fortunate students.  For further information or how to donate go to www.developafrica.org/donations

Alexa is the daughter of Mike and Amy Lane of Lebanon.