By Joan Goodchild, Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – It was an email message that Ann Jones, interim principal at Oak Middle School in Shrewsbury, received in the first weeks of school in August 2011 that was a bit different. Jones is used to chatting with students, but few actually go as far as to request a formal meeting to discuss ideas with her. But eighth-grader Jaehyun Lee wanted to sit down and talk.
“Not that many students will go through that kind of formality to meet with me,” Jones said. “And once we sat down, I was really impressed with his plan for creating a club.”
Lee described to Jones his vision for a new student-run, service-action organization at Oak; one that would work to raise books, supplies and money for a school in Uganda that is run by his grandparents, who are missionaries who have done humanitarian work around the world. The club, called Globally Making a Difference (GMAD), works not only to improve the lives of those in the Ugandan community it is connected with, but also to broaden its student-members” perspective, too.
“The club's ultimate goal is to inspire others,” said Lee.
Now several months in, GMAD has more than 20 members and has already held a fundraiser: a night at a Shrewsbury restaurant, where patrons could bring in a flyer and have a portion of their tab donated to GMAD. The event raised $180, all of which went to the Uganda school. Another fundraiser, a three-on-three basketball tournament event, is planned for the spring.
In addition to the work the club does for the Ugandan school, Lee also launched a pen-pal program between the members and students in Uganda.
“I want them to have a real, vivid relationship with the people that are there,” said Lee.
Jones is impressed by Lee's ability to engage fellow students and interest them in learning about cultures and places they might not have been exposed to otherwise.
“He has an unusual perspective for a kid his age,” she said. “He has a global awareness that others don's have, but he's sharing that with other kids, and that's invaluable.”
Lee, who has a younger sister and an older brother, said his parents are his main influence when it comes to the desire to make the world a better place. His mother often asks him how he can improve himself.
“She will ask me: “What do you need to do to be a role model? How can you influence others to be the best they can be?””