December 6, 2008

Students For Political Action at Westdale Secondary School  are Making Noise for Global Justice!

The Students for Political Action (SPA) at Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario have demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to global justice. As an inclusive group open to the ideas and enthusiasm of all students, the SPA has informed, inspired, and enriched the Westdale student community.


SPA has been very active and vocal about topics that matter to them. It has challenged trustees’ decisions to stick with an exclusive soft drink and computer contract and hosted five consecutive Keep The Beat events. Members have also organized symposia and assemblies on topics such as war, the media, privatization, global and local poverty, African conflict and the Holocaust.

SPA’s commitment to the work of War Child Canada has been astounding! They have successfully organized Keep the Beats for the past five years and this year they raised $15, 744. In total, Westdale has raised an incredible total of over $73,200 – enough to rebuild two schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I remember tears in students’ eyes when they realized that their efforts had a concrete result in a place that desperately needed help. Kids found out that when you participate, you really can make a difference. The local paper and news channels had something good to report about youth. In the Congo, well, we received pictures of the school being built and the smiles on the faces of the children soon to attend the school indicated that the impact on them was positive too.”

Barry Smith
Educator, Westdale Secondary School

War Child Canada salutes the SPA for challenging the status quo, for standing up for what they care about and for being Noise Makers for global justice!