Wister Elementary reaches out to victims of war

by Samaria Bailey

Students at Wister Elementary School have joined forces with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Eagles Youth Partnership to help better the lives of kids living in war torn countries. Fifth and sixth grade students from Wister adopted a Shepherd dog through the Marshall Legacy Institute and CHAMPS program that will be trained, courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles, to detect landmines in war zones.

“The CHAMPS program is a geography, history, fundraising and current events lesson all rolled-up into one,” said Wister principal Donna Smith. “Having the Eagles invest in the CHAMPS program will further enrich the lives of our children.”

Through this program, students will be able to track the Shepherd’s, Little Swoop’s progress abroad while also raising money for prosthetics and therapy for children who are victims of landmine explosions. They will also have the opportunity to communicate with these children through video-chatting.

“These students, some of whom have never traveled outside of their neighborhoods, will now connect with children living in other countries, forming lasting memories and hopefully friendships,” said Christina Lurie, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles.

“We believe that once these students realize they can have a positive impact on the lives of others and learn about the heroic capabilities of these lifesaving animals, they will become more empowered and seek other opportunities to help. “