Cedars Christian School

On Tuesday, October 20th, the Grade 7 class participated in a Slum Survivor Challenge, which was a step towards gaining a better understanding of just what these words really mean.  The goal of the day was for students to begin to see what life might be like for over a billion people in the world today who reside in slums in various countries around the globe.  Here is what they experience during the day:

“The houses we built were made of wood and cardboard. Mine was so small that my “family” (a group of four students and one adult that we were assigned to) could barely fit inside of it.  We spent most of the day making things to sell so we could make enough money to eat lunch. The customers were rude and paid us poorly. We rushed around trying desperately to make money. We also struggled for enough money to buy an education, which would later help us survive. In this slum day challenge community was very important. We needed to lean our house against our neighbors and help others put out their “fires” (which were not real). At one point during the “fire”, everyone chose to help their neighbors, except for one group who chose to save themselves. Because of that one group, the whole village burned down. We also needed each other to trade and sell our resources. This event was a great experience that helps you realize how fortunate we are and think differently of the poor.” Courtney Serup

Each grade seven had a different experience, but each connected with one of those four key words:

Injustice

“People were looking and treat us differently because of what we were doing and how we were living.  They treated us like they were better.”  Jess

“How the tourists treated us in the slum and that they only bought at low prices was injustice.”  Cam

“I saw that there were people that had so much and shared so little.” Graeme

Compassion

“I had to work to get food, but some kids have to do that for their whole lives.” Matthew S

“It would be hard to live that everyday and that it is not FAIR that we all say we want more when they have nothing.” Alannah

“The thing is that there are people in the world that don’t know how long they’ll live like that and how lonely and rejected they are from humans with money.”  Caroline

Community

“You have to help your neighbors and be a part of the community or else it will be harder for your family.” Sam

“Community is stronger and more helpful the poorer it is.” Josiah

Vision

“I’ll think more about wasting things.” Evian

“This wasn’t just a game.  This happens for real and everyday.” Hailey

Processing these themes brings many difficult yet vital questions.  Why do I have so much wealth and opportunity when so many do not?  Does “love my neighbor like I love myself” connect my life to theirs?  Most of the conclusions became very obvious.  People with lots should remember the poor.  We need to be wise in the way we steward the rare luxuries we’ve been blessed with.  The solutions become apparent as we work through how to have a Christian Perspective in our modern world.  The Survivor Challenge was one step towards understanding how we can be transformed into Jesus’s hands and feet in the world.  How do we fight injustice, grow compassion, build community and have God’s vision for the world?  That’s the real challenge.