Traditionally every year at this time, the graduating class from Malaspina's Education Department does a little fundraising to pay for their graduation dinner and celebration.

This year's class has chosen a different route; led by Shannon Gillespie, they are doing a whole lot of fundraising and then ... paying for their own dinner.

Their goal is to raise $15,000 to build a school in Africa, and they hope that future graduating classes will chose to follow in their footsteps and find their own special project.

Nicolette Zuydervelt says she hopes it might even become a bit of a competition between future graduating classes.

I can see it now as next year's class exclaims, "We'll see your school and raise you two goats, ten chickens, and a hundred books!"

As often happens the seed of this wonderful idea was planted, and began to germinate, in a bed of sadness.

Shannon Gillespie's mother, Sharon Hawker, passed away last January from breast cancer. As she was preparing for what would be her last Christmas, instead of buying gifts for her, she asked her family to find something tangible they could give to needy Third World people.

So a World Vision catalogue was ordered and her family did their shopping - They bought chickens, piglets, and cows and donated them in her name.

The most expensive project promoted in the catalogue ($15,000) was to build a school from scratch. Shannon saw that as a wonderful opportunity but at the time had no idea she might be part of making that project a reality in just a few months.

Last January, as this year's graduating class met to discuss their graduation celebration, Shannon mentioned the possibility of working together to raise the $15,000 needed to build a school in Africa instead of $3,000 or so to buy themselves and expensive dinner. The response was a resounding, "YES" from the entire group.

Four students offered to form a committee to help Shannon organize the fundraising events needed to raise $15,000: Sarah Davidson, Jessica Peters, Tara Janes, and Nicolette Zuydervelt. Soon the fundraising projects began to take shape.

The first event was a Beer, Burger and Silent Auction Night at the Foundry Pub organized by Natalie Chelsom with help from Laura Mattson. Ten percent of their goal was reached in that one evening.

Future events will include Dream Catchers -- allowing any of us to help this dream come true - which will be sold at a variety of events throughout the summer including the Vancouver Island Children's Festival; a garage sale on June 4 (location to be determined); a Kids Fun Day in the summer (Who better than newly graduated teachers to organize such an event?); and a scholastic book sale in the fall.

Also throughout the rest of the year, when you drop off your returnables at any bottle depot, you may request that the money go to the Teachers Building Schools project.

The next event in line is a Jazz Night to be held this Saturday, April 16 at 7 pm in room 109 of Malaspina's Education Building (356).

The event, which will offer great music, deserts and coffee, is absolutely FREE including the desert and coffee (thank you Starbucks); however, be prepared to spend large on the silent and live auction.

Your auctioneer (yours truly) will be expecting you to pay retail ... plus ... on all items or you may choose to simply drop a few bucks in one of the donation cans I hope, and expect, to be there.

That's the Teachers Building Schools Jazz Night at 7 pm this Saturday in Room 109 of the Education Building (356). See you there.

Perhaps the school could be named after Sharon Hawker. What do you think?