Ponoka teacher named A Better World Canada’s Citizen of the Year

In 2006, Julie and her mother travelled to Kenya with A Better World.

Two years later, she initiated a fundraising campaign for ABW while attending H.J. Cody School in Sylvan.

She helped raise money for a new school as well as the surrounding community within Kenya.

In 2009, Lapointe led a trip of classmates, teachers, the school principal and family to take part in the grand opening of Kiprengwe Primary School.

“I followed her journey to see what would become of Julie,” said Rajah. “She went onto the University of Lethbridge and invited us there to raise money for schools in Afghanistan.”

After graduating with an education degree, she became a teacher at Ponoka Secondary Campus and has been teaching Grade 11 and 12 biology and chemistry for the past five years.

Last Friday, she and her students held a fundraiser for water projects for a school and raised $3,700.

Lapointe also involves her family.

Their latest project was to raise money for 87 new pairs of shoes bought in Kenya.

Recipients included a mentally challenged boy and a 100-year-old woman, both of whom had never owned a pair of shoes before.

To date, Ponoka students have raised an estimated $9,000 for ABW projects under the direction of Lapointe.

“My involvement has never been a solo adventure,” Lapointe said. “My family has been consistently involved with A Better World in one way or another and has been a support throughout.”

Julie added that supporters of ABW don’t do it for the recognition.

“We do it because it’s the right thing to do and we can make a difference on this planet.”

by Gary McKinnon

Ponoka teacher named A Better World Canada’s Citizen of the Year

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