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Work on Wednesdays, or WoW, is a program at the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) office in Kitchener, Ont. in which children are invited to come and learn more about MCC. This is a hands-on experience where, among other tasks, the children fill health kits. The 12 children in attendance July 14 filled 148 kits in the course of the morning.
They also participated in “tying” the quilt top mounted on a frame. MCC staff person Jan Adams showed the children a picture of a refugee family living in a tent, holding in their hands a cherished quilt given to them by MCC. A shipment of quilts similar to the one the children tied was sent to Bam, Iran after the earthquake there in January 2004.
“Water is Life” was the title of the second half of the morning. The children were taught about the importance of water. Through games and tasks, they saw what it means to prioritize water use and to value the easy access we have to clean water here in Canada. One of the game cards said, “The average North American uses 646 litres of water each day. The World Health Organization says that each person needs 55 litres a day for drinking, cooking and cleanliness. Give a dime for each time you washed your hands today.”
After learning about how little of the world’s available water is good for drinking, the children had these thoughts. “Don’t leave the tap on when you brush your teeth,” said Mac. “Not every country has so much water,” reflected Madeleine. They had heard the message. (To learn more about the Water is Life teaching resources contact MCC at 1-888-622-6337.) 
New skills were learned as Mackenzie Graham, 7, was introduced to “tying” a quilt. Quilts are lovingly made and then packed into bales and sent to other countries where they are needed. |
Madeleine Graham, 5, with the contents of a health kit – toothpaste, toothbrush, nail clippers, soap and a towel – ready to wrap and pack in a drawstring bag. These tools help friends in need stay clean and ward off germs. |
Mackenzie (centre) and his teammates reviewed all the uses for water listed on the pink cards and then tried to rank them in order of importance. Many people around the world need to ration water and choose what they will go without. Drinking water was an easy first choice, but it was hard to decide what was next – using water for cooking food or brushing teeth. Photos: Lynn Graham |
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“I went to MCC and it was fun. I learned how people live in different places. My favourite part was when we got to make Health Kits. I helped people that don’t have homes. I helped them by giving them a Health Kit and giving them a blanket. I heard a story about a little girl who got a Relief Kit and it was her very first gift. This girl was 16 years old. I also learned about how much we need water.”
—Madeleine Graham, 5 |
 Lynn Graham attends Kitchener (Ont.) MB Church.
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