From January through March, smaller clubs made a big impact through the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.

By Erin Chandler 

In January, February and March, Kiwanis clubs around the world received Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrants for small projects that will make a big impact on kids and families. Microgrants are helping clubs teach kids how to be safe in swimming pools and when crossing the street, providing school supplies for students and teachers, and more.  

The following three projects highlight some of the ways Kiwanis clubs are using microgrants to help young people in need keep up with their peers in the Kiwanis cause areas of education and literacy, health and nutrition, and youth leadership development.  

Health and Nutrition
Huellas Seguras (Secure Footprints)
Kiwanis Club of Las Claras, Panama
One of the most common reasons students dropped out of Las Claras Arriba Rural and Multigrade School was the weather. Heavy rains exacerbated by climate change make it difficult for students to walk barefoot — as many do — over long distances on slippery roads to get to school. However, the Kiwanis Club of Las Claras saw that this was a relatively easy problem to solve, especially with a little help. A Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant will go toward the purchase of 100 pairs of rubber boots and waterproof capes, which will be distributed to students through the local development board and the school’s parents’ association. The club hopes to see a boost in consistent attendance rates once the students have rain gear protecting their health and safety on the way to school. 

Education and Literacy
Reading is Fundamental Book Giveaway
Kiwanis Club of Highland, Indiana, U.S.
Thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Highland and a Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant, kids who aren’t able to purchase books from the Scholastic Book Fair still get to take home a brand-new Scholastic Book. Every year around the time of the book fair, Kiwanians visit the six area schools. They read to the kindergarten classes and tell the students about K-Kids, which they’ll be eligible to join in the third grade. Then each child gets to select a book purchased by the club from Scholastic Books, a Kiwanis partner. It’s a great way for kids to grow — or start — their home library. A favorite among club members, the project has already helped hundreds of kids get excited about reading. 

Youth Leadership Development
Calm Corners for Kids
Kiwanis Club of Freeport Golden K, Illinois, U.S.
At Jones-Farrar School, members of Builders Club — the Kiwanis Service Leadership Program for students age 12-14 — learned that not every school had spaces set aside to help students practice mindfulness and relaxation when needed. So they decided to do something about it — and the Kiwanis Club of Freeport Golden K pledged to help. Now a Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrant will help these two Kiwanis family clubs work together to create three Calm Corners at local community centers. The Corners will be supplied with weighted blankets, noise-canceling headphones, floor cushions, sensory toys and other tools to help kids manage their emotions, reduce stress and develop self-regulation skills. The club will also provide training resources for Calm Corner volunteers and informational resources for parents. Each Corner will be codesigned with the kids who will use it. This initiative fosters the servant leadership of the Jones-Farrar Builders Club and helps more kids develop the mental and emotional resilience they will need as leaders of tomorrow. 

How you can help 
To learn more about Kiwanis Children’s Fund microgrants, visit kiwanis.org/microgrant-program.    

If you want to help the Children’s Fund provide grants like these that reach children around the world, you can make a gift to The Possibility Project. Your club also can apply for a grant to help kids in your community today.