Wednesday 16 December 2020

SEEDschool students explore "How does empathy drive innovation?"

Grade 5 students from R.T. Alderman spent their SEEDschool week exploring the question “How does empathy drive innovation?” The classes spent time exploring creative inventions created to help people in need and built their own prototypes to solve problems surrounding homelessness.  



A highlight of the week was meeting with Alice Lam who is co-owner of Tigerstedt Flea in Crescent Heights, and who collaborated with friends to start a community fridge initiative on their shop’s block. The fridge is an example of mutual aid – neighbours helping neighbours. Everyone is encouraged to donate food to the fridge and accompanying pantry, and anyone in need is welcome to take from it, no questions asked. Alice shared about how her empathy for the community inspired both the store and the fridge, and how she continues to give back through social enterprise. Alice provides local makers' space in her shop to sell their homemade products and encourages the artists to donate some of the proceeds to causes they care about. 

The Grade 5 students were so inspired by her example, they decided to make works of art to see at Alice’s store as a fundraiser for The Mustard Seed. The pieces of art are currently being sold by donation, and are on display at Tigerstedt Flea (918 Centre St N). 





~ Kelsey Brown, SEEDschool Coordinator


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