LAWRENCE — Sitting across the table from each other, two students were counting pennies, another was cutting purple and blue construction paper and another was writing on a tissue box already decorated.
The students at Community Day Charter School were decorating tissue boxes, plastic jars and coffee cans to place in each classroom to raise money for Pennies for Peace to help fund a new school in rural Pakistan.
The 21 students ages 12 and 13 are taking part in the after school program called Start Something which teaches them to set goals, accomplish them, gain self-esteem and leadership skills through community service.
"We want students to demonstrate personal responsibility for themselves, their work, their school, their community, and their world," said teacher Michael Neagle, who supervises the program with Colleen Kelly.
The coin drive is in full swing at the school located at 73 Prospect St.
"We are helping other kids in the world that don't have the privilege to go to school," said Oneida Rios Gonzalez, whose in eighth grade. "Small things can help people and I feel good after for doing something good."
Before embarking on a project, Neagle prepares a lesson on U.S. history, world geography or ancient civilization to give students a connection to what they are doing.
He said the students were 5 years-old when the war in Afghanistan started and now watching the news on television "makes it more real.'
"In addition to fostering understanding and compassion for others, we want them to understand that they have the power to make a difference," said Neagle, seventh and eighth-grade social studies teacher.
In addition to international service efforts, Start Something participants have been involved in projects in Lawrence and the region.
Students collected and delivered canned goods to Neighbors in Need at Thanksgiving and cleaned several city neighborhoods and parks for Earth Day and participated in the Spicket River Clean Up both with Groundworks Lawrence.
Students learned about the curbside recycling effort in Lawrence from the city's new recycling director Norm Nimmo. In turn, they created a student-led informational presentation to share in all 30 classrooms in hope that all 330 students' home have a recycling bin.
Other events included participating in the New England Pediatric Care 'Cool Kids' 5K Road Race/Fun Walk to benefit children and young adults with severe impairments. The sixth to eighth-graders volunteered at Lowell's 'Beautification Day' and helped clean Claypit Cemetery, organized by Neagle, who lives in Lowell. The cemetery dates to the 1700s and has connections to the Revolutionary War and the Underground Railroad.
Last year, they raised $840 in change and purchased 120 chickens, two goats, two pigs and contributed money to buy a cow for 24 families in West Africa, through Heifer International.
"We want to help countries have a better way of life and get an education like we do here," said eighth-grader Zack Ducherme.
