Past projects 27
Belize Environmental Science and Conservation Expedition
Funded Oct 24, 2017This was an amazing experience for our students, and I am certain every adventure we had will forever impact the way they perceive the natural world, other cultures, and the conservation of biodiversity.
While each day was filled with new sights and interactions with local Belizeans, perhaps one memorable night was spent learning how to play African drums and dance traditional dances. We were taught by young men who were a part of a drumming program (Drums Not Guns) whose aim was to take young people of the streets and to offer them an outlet for creativity, energy, and community service. In these young men, our students could see how they could bring activism back to their own communities.
Back at school, students will continue to discuss the incredible experience in Belize in our seminar. They will also bring their knowledge to support our nano biotope seminar and to contribute to the new living wall (vertical garden) installed at school. Already, some students have discussed ways in which the group can raise money to donate to the reforestation project that they participated in.
All in all, this was one of the most rewarding student strips I have ever been a part of, and I am thankful for all of your generosity.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
Bringing Energy Efficient, Full Spectrum Lighting to Classroom Aquariums
Funded Nov 14, 2017Thank you so much for your generous donations. My students were very excited to receive the two state-of-the-art LED light fixtures for their coral reefs. The new, energy-saving lights will now allow them to grow corals that would not have grown under the lights we had. This will allow them to replicate their chosen biotope as closely as possible.
We have been spending a lot of time fiddling with the settings on our smart phones, programming the lights to ramp up at sunrise and ramp down at sunset. We can even schedule lightning storms. These extras have really engaged my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
Bringing Drama to the Classroom
Funded Oct 18, 2017Thank you so much for helping me buy each of my students their own copies of the Shakespearean plays we will be studying this year. It is so important for students to learn how to read actively, especially when working with difficult texts. With their own books, students will be able to annotate, highlight, write questions in the margins, and make comments that will help contribute to classroom discussion.
More importantly, it is my goal to help young people build their own personal libraries at home and fall in love with books. That's why it is so touching that you have donated funds to help me put books into their hands.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose.org Community and 3 other donors.Energy-Efficient LED Light for Our Greenhouse Pond
Funded Feb 21, 2017Thank you so much for contributing to our greenhouse. With the new LED light fixture, we can provide full-spectrum lighting for our pond.
Full-spectrum lighting is essential for plant and animal growth, and the combined benefit of low-wattage LED lights allows my students to save energy.
My students enjoyed setting up the light to brighten our pond, providing overhead lighting more natural than the fluorescent tube lighting in our greenhouse. With this more natural lighting, our plants will thrive, and my students will see their hard work result in plant growth and healthy fish.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
Equipment Needed: Tropical Biotope in a High School
Funded Mar 11, 2016Thank you so much for contributing to my project. My students were very excited to receive the equipment for our greenhouse pond.
With the new filter--which has an output almost 6 times the volume of the used filter I had donated to the school--our water is cleaner for longer and will allow us to a) go for longer periods of time without changing water, thus saving water, and b) increase the bioload of the pond, allowing us to raise more or larger fish without worrying about rising ammonia or nitrite levels.
The new LED fixture has the spectrum of natural sunlight, uses only 40 watts, but has the same brightness as a 150-watt metal halide bulb. It is programmable, and both the intensity and spectrum can be adjusted. These features will allow us to grow lush plants underwater, further boosting the oxygen content of the water and bioload of our pond.
In our district a couple of schools have started to implement full aquaponics programs, and we hope that our pond will inspire a similar program at our school.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
This classroom project was brought to life by #BestSchoolDay and 7 other donors.South Africa 2016
Funded Sep 16, 2015Our trip to South Africa was filled with many highlights--interacting with students at the African Leadership Academy, running sprints against African students to celebrate the Founding of the African Leadership Academy, visiting the Cradle of Humankind and walking around a cave 600 feet below the ground, watching as a wild ostrich knocked on our van's window, and of course feeling the history of apartheid permeate the Robben Island prison that held Mandela.
However, two many epiphanies occurred for many of our students are worth mentioning, one during a moment of sheer joy, and one during a moment of incredible sadness. While on our day safari, more than a few students were so taken aback by the wildlife and beauty of the African savanna that they wanted to call their parents that very night to thank them for opportunity to travel abroad. This is not something you hear from teens very often, and I was gladdened by their genuine appreciation for the trip we worked so hard to plan. Later, while visiting the Kliptown Youth Program, the students and I were made speechless by the destitute poverty we witnessed in Soweto. We vowed to return to Chicago and raise money to support the community center that is the only bright spot in the shanty town. The community center provides meals for students and offers schooling and daycare for the young children of teens so that those teens can attend high school.
We are profoundly thankful for your generosity, and it is our mission to continue partnering with the African Leadership Academy, supporting the KYP, and educating our peers about the legacy of apartheid in South Africa.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
Nano Biotopes: 7 Micro-Environments in 7 Fish Tanks
Funded Oct 28, 2014Thank you so much for generously donating to my Nano Aquatic Biotope seminar. With your donation, we were able to furnish every tank with an auto top-off system that replenishes the tank's water to keep the water level high enough for the filter to work continuously. This was especially crucial during our long winter break.
Before your gift, my students were unaware that such equipment was even available for aquariums. Each team was responsible for reading the manuals and watching videos to learn how to install and maintain the systems. Over the long break, they were relieved to know that having a reservoir of water and these automatic systems meant being able to enjoy their break without worrying about low water levels due to evaporation, filter motors running dry, or spiked salinity.
Without these top-off systems, I would not be able to teach my students how to set up and maintain these aquatic environments.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau
This classroom project was brought to life by Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and 12 other donors.The Czechago Experience
Funded Sep 12, 2012Thank you so much for contributing to my project and helping to enrich the lives of my students. It is great to see that you share my belief in the importance of international travel for young adults.
The project that you have funded will enable students to experience a new country, culture, language, and people. In turn, it will help prepare them to recognize and analyze disparate perspectives, communicate with people outside their own community, and perhaps adopt a more informed world view.
Thank you so much for for supporting public education.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Chau