Dylan the Rat raises social awareness
Tim Dennis and students.
The Grade 8 students in Kathleen Woodhouse’s class at Davin School got a visit from a rambling rat on Thursday afternoon.
Dylan, a travelling animated rat, was part of a presentation by Tim Dennis, who represents Street Kids International. This organization is non-profit, operates in more than 60 countries, was founded in Canada and is dedicated to raising awareness about the needs and rights of street youth.
In May 2008, Dennis sold his home and farm in Dalbeattie, Scotland to initiate funds for the project. He’s travelled through Europe, Russia and Japan so far. He travels in his Toyota Landcruiser.
“I was actually getting a lot more out of doing positive things with kids, than I was doing a normal job,” he said of his decision to start working with children.
Dennis introduced himself to the kids as a lover of life and then shared a video from Street Kids International. Afterward, he answered questions and provided some personal insight through his own experiences meeting street youth in various countries.
When Dennis saw the opportunity to travel and to work with street kids living in poverty in different countries and work with youth projects, he jumped on it.
There are 11,000 street kids in Canada, said Dennis, 1,500 to 3,000 of whom do not get a bed to sleep in every night, leaving them at risk for drugs, prostitution and abuse.
Dennis speaks to privileged kids about food, water and shelter and what they really need in life.
“The essential things,” he said. “And a sense of self — to think about what they really want in life and what they’re going to get out of life.”
Woodhouse said Dennis’ presentation ties in with a project the class had been working on about getting past stereotypes that started with a book called from Me to We by Craig Kielburger.
Woodhouse was eager to have Dennis speak because she thought it was an excellent way to tie in another organization. She wanted the students to see the idea of helping others as well as how doing social justice activities are happening in other places.
“So we had Me to We which is Craig Kielburger as a 12-year-old,” she said. “And we have Tim who’s in his 30s and he’s doing this thing with another organization, Street Kids International. So how can we incorporate these two ideas? And maybe we want to work with one, but maybe we can create our own thing on our own scale.”
The class reaction was positive, said Woodhouse, who is looking forward to Monday’s class when they will discuss what they can do as a class in Regina to help.
The Rambling Rat made an earlier stop on Thursday, visiting with a Grade 7/8 class at Coldwell School. Dennis’ travel log can be found on his website (www.ramblingrat.com).
BY SAMANTHA MACIAG, THE LEADER-POST
I really enjoyed connecting to the young people yesterday it gave a real boost to see them take such an interest in the issues of other youth from around the world, they really liked the way that the expedition unites kids from all over the world, and i was overwhelmed at how they supported me giving me encouragement. I feel that they all learned something about themselves and know “life is for living”
Thank you for inviting me to your schools.
From Tim Dennis
Leatha Bird
Coldwell School
Kathleen Woodhouse
Davin Elementary School
Oh, bravo Tim! Good job, and look at what a positive impression you made with these kids! You are really changing lives for the better out there!
Hugs!
Nichole