Some students in the District are "giving back" by helping refugees in the Congo ...and by raising awareness about local issues.

Jessica Forres observed their efforts at KIPP DC's Will Academy in Northwest...




[NAT: SO IF MY EXPERTS JUST WANT TO HEAD TOWARDS OUR GUESTS.

That's teacher Kate Finley. Her "experts" are the fifth graders who just gave a presentation on the civil war in the Congo...

THIS IS KIND OF THE ROOM WHERE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A TIMELINE KIND OF GIVING THE GUESTS A SUMMARY OF THE REASON WE'RE RAISING THIS MONEY TODAY.

The guests include the parents of the 250 students who spend their Saturdays serving the community...

[NAT of presentation]

Inside another classroom, seventh grader Hana Ford explains how her class collected and donated canned goods to food banks in the area…

WE WEREN'T REALLY USED TO HELPING OUT OUR COMMUNITY AND WE REALLY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US AND THEY MAY NEED HELP.

Donny Tiengtum, who coordinates "Saturday School"...which is mandatory for the students... explains why the focus is on community service...

A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE ON THE RECEIVING END AND WE ARE TRYING TO SHOW THEM WHICH END YOUR ON YOUR ABILITY TO GIVE AND HELP AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GIVE IS TOTALLY DOABLE.

Will Academy is one of four KIPP charter schools operating in the District.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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One of the District's charter middle schools is teaching students to give back to their communities.

Jessica Forres reports…

"School on Saturday" is mandatory for the students at KIPP DC's Will Academy…a charter school in Northwest.

Donny Tiengtum is the coordinator...

THEY ARE REALLY TRYING TO TURN WHAT HAS TYPICALLY BEEN DAYS OF SORT OF EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES LIKE BASKETBALL AND DRAMA TO COMMUNITY FOCUSED WORK.

Principal Jessica Cunningham explains why the curriculum changed...

REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARENTS FINANCIAL SITUATION. THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW BIG OF AN EFFECT THEY CAN HAVE ON THEIR OWN COMMUNITY AND EVENT HE LARGER COMMUNITY.

More than 80 percent of the school's 250 students qualify for free or reduced lunch and are typically at the receiving end of services but these same students have collected thousands of canned goods for area food banks and many dollars for refugees in the Congo.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News