LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Not all heros wear capes. But the young leaders at The Learning Linq in Summerlin do.
A small group of third graders from a program called Global Problem Solvers or the GPS team recently dreamed up and opened a school store with a charitable aspect.
"We sell school supplies and other things kids need for school.," said one of the members, Amelia.
The third graders who make up the GPS team aren’t just selling supplies kids need for school. They’re also donating supplies to kids in need. For each notebook purchased in their store, they donate one to a local elementary school. The charitable component of their small business was born of an important conversation they had with their teacher about inequality.
“What about school supplies?" asked teacher Amy Larson Novak, "You guys go to school and you don’t really have to think about that. Your parents get it for you. But what happens to the kids that don’t have that? We talked, in fact it was a whole class period we talked about how there’s a lot of kids that don’t have that and so that hit them because they know -- what it’s like to feel hungry? What’s it like to not have something that you want, when you want it?”
Humbled by reality, moved by emotion, the students sprung into action, developing their business plan, researching, designing and and ultimately opening their charitable school store.
“They’re learning business and entrepreneurship. They’re learning to give back and have a social conscience and they’re also learning to think outside the box when it comes to solving a problem and just because you’re little doesn’t mean you can’t," said Novak.
And at just 9- and 10-years-old, these young humanitarians understand that it feels good to give.
“They don’t have a lot of supplies so it feels good just to like give them happiness," said Amelia.
For using their heads and hearts to help those in need, for proving you’re never too young to make a big difference, we honored the young leaders as our Vegas Stronger Champions of the month.
