The School of the Month for November is Homer Junior High School of Homer, New York!

The Humanitarian Club of Homer Junior High is a group of 8th grade students raising money for charities around the world. For the past two years they have focused on the Save Darfur Coalition.

Each year, before they begin fundraising, social studies teachers at Homer play the eight-minute video “The Promise” for their classes and discuss the situation in Darfur. The video touches many students and encourages them to help.

This year, the Humanitarian Club organized a school-wide Hat Day, when students can pay $1 to wear a hat in school (they are not allowed to normally). They also hosted a school dance, charging admission and donating all the money they collected. In addition to these events, the club sells green Save Darfur wristbands to raise awareness and funds.

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It’s no secret that high school students are busy. Classes, friends, sports, applying to college – it’s enough to occupy anyone. What is extraordinary is that all across the country, students are dedicating their time to bring peace to Darfur.

The Dollars for Darfur program is proof of how generous and effective young people can be, and how importantly they view the crisis in Darfur. The students who devote their time to this cause remind us of what each person can achieve, and recently, several have been acknowledged for their hard work.

This month Ana Slavin and Nick Anderson, aged 18 and 19 respectively, were honored with a Global Action Award by Mercy Corps for founding the program as juniors in high school. Their enthusiasm and commitment kindled a nationwide effort that has engaged thousands of students and inspired them to speak out for the Darfuri people.

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The Darfur Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring the tireless work of Darfuri diaspora leaders in the United States - in particular, Darfur Peace and Development Organization president Suliman Giddo and Marwa Salah Eldin Abdalla, the youngest member of the Darfuri Leaders Network and executive member of the Fur Cultural Revival Organization.

Here are their stories:

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It’s normal to see groups of tourists flooding Washington in the summer months. Dozens of student groups come to tour historical monuments and learn about U.S. history and government.

This year, one group came to make a difference. Thirty-five students, teachers, and parents - winners of this year’s annual Dollars for Darfur National School Challenge - came to Washington on an all-expense-paid trip to lobby their elected officials.

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