STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA DO AN EXPERIMENT IN CHEMISTRY CLASS
Hinsdale Central LEAP Club Reaching Out Across Continents
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early 8,500 miles from Hinsdale, South African schools receive support from volunteer students and staff of Hinsdale High School District 86. Since 2006, the Hinsdale Central LEAP Club has built a partnership with six schools in impoverished areas of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Founded by South African John Gilmour, the LEAP program opened its first high school in 2004. This year, the Central club’s spring fundraising efforts have been challenged by Coronavirus social-distancing measures, but according to LEAP club president Olivia Ostrowski, they made the best of it. “Largely being student-run, we have taken a big hit," Ostrowski said. "Normally, our fundraisers have been in the spring, with our neon dance, silent auction and tomato sales. We had to cancel the dance and auction, but we decided to conduct our tomato sales online instead of in-person. In the end,
BY SCOTT JONLICH
we had a successful online sale this year.” Each year, Hinsdale residents Tom and Judy Casten grow the tomatoes in their yard at Washington and Third Street. The Castens have supported LEAP throughout the years, raising much-needed funds for the program. The club’s goal is to transform South African students, who are financially and socially disadvantaged, into role models and leaders of change in their country. “The LEAP club has instilled a deep sense of gratitude, and [I] fell in love with its message,” Ostrowski said. “We are lucky growing up in Hinsdale to have security and stability. Then, traveling to South Africa, I was exposed to the egregious conditions the South Africans live in, and that was extremely eye-opening to me. It taught me to be extremely grateful for what I have.” Ostrowski said people can get involved by helping out with fundraisers. "Currently, we are the only LEAP club in the world, and want to spread the word to new volunteers and supporters," she said. "We still have tomato plants at the Castens' home. In the fall, we will be back in full swing when the school year begins.”
Pam Kalafut, the club sponsor and former activities director at Central, said, “When we first went to South Africa, we did not go there with the attitude 'we’re going to save you.'—We want to be your friends, work together to improve our lives and share good between us. We don’t see it as a charity; we see it as a friendship." Hinsdale Central faculty member Heather Fehrman, who was in attendance for the tomato sale with Ostrowski and Kalafut, said, “I went to South Africa a couple of years ago as part of a teacher exchange program. A handful of teachers from District 86 were able to go down there as part of a global teachers’ institute conference, and we were able to meet teachers from all across South Africa who are doing amazing things there for their kids. Our contribution is to give them additional financial resources.” For the entire LEAP club leaders and the Castens, the efforts from a newlyarriving Central class is always inspiring, as Ostrowski described seeing families living in tin shacks without running water HINSDALE MAGAZINE | HinsdaleMag.com
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