Student campaigns promote respect at schools

Are you a teacher, coach, or leader of youth ages 5-18 who includes community service as part of your yearly work with these youngsters?

If so, consider having your group join the annual E Ola Pono Campaign, a statewide initiative that encourages groups to create projects and activities promoting harmony and peace at schools and in communities.

Groups that sign up and submit required information before the campaign’s April 25 deadline become eligible to win monetary awards of up to $1,000.

The awards will be presented to outstanding projects and activities in the campaign’s elementary, middle and high school divisions.

Any activity or project initiated during the current school year can be written up and submitted.

Words that define the Hawaiian concept of pono include: goodness, uprightness, moral qualities, correct or proper procedure, excellence, well-being and more.

“The main purpose of this campaign is to promote this understanding of living pono, which is a proactive and positive way to address bullying,” said Sara Ka‘imipono Banks, campaign coordinator and staff member of the Growing Pono Schools Project, a Native Hawaiian education grant awarded to the Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. “We encourage youth to reach into their na‘au, or gut, to make right choices for themselves and others.”

The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and other donors also sponsor the E Ola Pono Campaign.

Now in its seventh year, the Pono Campaign is sanctioned by the state Department of Education as well as local private and charter school associations.

“When students are encouraged to improve their school or community environment, the impact can be very powerful,” stated Banks.

Further information about joining the E Ola Pono Campaign can be found at www.growingponoschools.org.