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Comox student looking forward to humanitarian work in Senegal

Soleil Rainville thinks people are probably tired of hearing her count down the days until she leaves for Senegal. The 16-year-old from Comox, who is in Grade 11 at École Au coeur de l'île, will spend two weeks doing humanitarian work in western Africa this month.
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SOLEIL RAINVILLE

Soleil Rainville thinks people are probably tired of hearing her count down the days until she leaves for Senegal.The 16-year-old from Comox, who is in Grade 11 at École Au coeur de l'île, will spend two weeks doing humanitarian work in western Africa this month.The project, called Yaakaar — which means hope in the Senegalese Wolof language — is the culmination of Global Perspectives, a two-year online course for Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) students.As part of the project, students must raise money, and much of that goes toward education for African children, as Yaakaar provides 60 bursaries of $200 a year to students in Senegal.While in Senegal, the students will volunteer in three different schools and in an orphanage."There's a lot of interacting with the students," said Rainville. "They teach us things, and we try to teach them things."Rainville leaves March 17 and will spend two weeks in Senegal, along with 24 other students and eight chaperones.Rainville became interested in Yaakaar and the Global Perspectives course when the principal of the virtual school came to École Au coeur de l'île and shared a video about the course and the project."I've always wanted to do a humanitarian trip," she said.Rainville has always had an interest in helping others — near and far.Her family has fostered children from around the world, and, growing up, she and her younger brother would go through all their toys once a month and give them away."One time we filled this big tub full of toys," she said. "I felt really good about it. I was probably about six, and I felt happy and good. It's always been part of my growing up. I would like to be a teacher one day and go and teach in schools around the world, and I guess this is one step closer to that."While Rainville isn't sure what to expect when she goes to Senegal, she is excited to spend time with the children.Rainville and classmate Chloe Martineau — who had to pull out of the project because she is involved in a French language television quiz show — have raised $1,600 to send to Senegal, and Rainville received a certificate for having raised a certain amount of money.At École Au coeur de l'île, Rainville showed a video about the project, and every class filled a donation jar."The Grade 1 class filled it the fastest," she said. "They were so proud when they brought it to me. It makes you feel good when everybody's trying to help and to see what they're doing because even just the small things make such a difference."Rainville has learned a lot in her Global Perspectives course."Just because I'm a 16-year-old living in the Comox Valley doesn't mean I don't play a part in the rest of the world. It doesn't mean everyone has to make a humanitarian trip, but you can make small differences in your own community. The little, tiny actions amount to a lot in the long run."Rainville is still accepting donations for students in Senegal.Tax receipts are available for donations greater than $25, and anyone wishing to receive a receipt can make a cheque out to Conseil Scolaire Francophone/Projet Yaakaar. Cheques for less than $25 can be made out to Projet Yaakaar/Jocelyne Fortin, and all donations can be dropped off or sent to École Au coeur de l'île at 1290 Guthrie Rd.And for the record, it's six days until Rainville leaves.writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com