FOCUS - MAY 2017 7 T The 17-year-old Port Perry High School student has taken on a project called “From Boxes to Beads,” to raise money to support adult literacy pro- grams in Haiti. Here’s how it works. Cereal boxes are collected and sent to Haiti to be made into beautiful, one-of-a-kind bracelets. Did you know that one cereal box creates 11 jobs, makes 50 beads, and generates $40 in sales for the artisans? Boxes to Beads is affiliated with the Apparent Project, (apparentproject.org.) Through this organization, over 400 cereal boxes are transformed into bracelets daily. The bracelets are sent back to Canada where they are sold for only $10 each. 100% of the proceeds go to FIDA, a Canadian charitable organization (fida-pch.org.) that funds programs such as adult literacy in Haiti. What Anna learned about Cuba from her World Cultures teacher, Mr. Fong, inspired her to start her own social initiative BE DIFFERENT TODAY. “Through the lens of a camera in my photography class at school, I was inspired by Malala Yousafzai who was shot by the Taliban for try- ing to go to school in Afghanistan,” Anna further explained. “Through these two school projects, I began to see the world a bit differently. I have learned that other girls do not have the same opportunities as me just because of geography and location of birth and that parents give up kids because they just need a job. I learned that there are adults who don’t know how to read and write because they did not have the opportunity to go to school. I began to see that there was more to life than just school, hockey and work. I decided that I wanted to be different.” “I want to put my education into action,” Anna said, “and make my mark on the world.” Her first project “From Boxes to Beads” is three-fold. First, her goal is to raise $500 selling the bracelets. Secondly, she is committed to collect- ing cereal boxes to recycle as part of this program. Thirdly, she hopes to inspire other students to get involved. Several ways to support this pro- ject were suggested. Buying a bracelet for yourself or for a Mother’s Day gift is a great idea, Anna suggested. “When you wear it, remember the importance of education.” People can also help out by donat- ing their empty cereal boxes, “and if possible donate a toonie with the cereal box to help with the cost of shipping to Haiti.” People with a retail front can host a pop up store or sell bracelets in their community, such as Amanda Gilroy at Breakaway Therapy and Training, 9 Bascom St. in Uxbridge. Anna’s future plans include “con- tinuing to help people.” She will be studying communications at univer- sity, where she will learn photogra- phy and writing skills, which should be invaluable in her career working for not-for-profits. Missionary work also appeals to her, especially after a recent trip Cuba where she had the Anna showing off the beautiful bracelets made from cereal boxes. Anna Twohey’s initiative: ...................... Please turn to page 8 FROM BOXES TO BEADS be different oday PHOTOS BY MARYANN FLEMING