Powering lives, one battery at a time
University of Guelph-Humber students Océanne Arsenault Perron and Musfara Imran are taking action to save the lives of children with zinc deficiency in India.
Arsenault Perron and Imran are hosting a week long initiative at Guelph-Humber to raise awareness and collect 1,000 batteries for Zinc Saves Lives.
Zinc deficiency is often overlooked but is a health concern that 450 thousand children die from each year, Imran said. A number she finds staggering, considering how simple it is to protect these lives.
“One AA battery will save up to six lives,” Imran said.
The batteries will be donated to Teck, one of the largest producers of zinc in the world. Teck will then donate the value of zinc contained in the batteries to United Nations Children’s Fund in support of the Zinc Saves Lives initiative. Unicef will send food containing zinc to children in India who are suffering from zinc deficiency.
The battery collection will take place at Guelph-Humber from Monday, Nov. 2, 2015 to Friday, Nov. 6, 2015 in the north atrium. Members of the Guelph-Humber community are encouraged to support the cause by bringing batteries.
As Guelph-Humber Student Association Early Childhood representatives, Arsenault Perron and Imran both share a love for children and are keen on doing their part to support young lives in India.
GHSA will contribute to the cause by donating 100 batteries, to match those donated.
The Zinc Saves Lives initiative was promoted by Teck at We Day on Oct. 1, 2015 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. We Day is a youth empowerment event which aims to raise awareness about issues that affect children in developing countries.
Arsenault Perron and Imran were volunteers at the event and felt motivated to collect batteries within their university community.
“I felt emotionally moved by the large number of young people who took the initiative in their schools and communities, to make a difference in the world,” Arsenault Perron said.
Arsenault Perron and Imran were able to see the vast number of lives they could potentially save, through the simple donation of batteries.
To encourage participation, the individual who collects the most batteries will be awarded a Me to We bag and a Rafiki bracelet. Arsenault Perron and Imran will also have a random draw in which they will give away a backpack and a $50 prepaid Visa gift card.
Everyone has batteries and can easily help in this fundraiser, Imran said.
“Through this fundraiser, we can encourage others to help and build a sense of closeness to the children of India, by helping save lives,” Arsenault Perron said.
Arsenault Perron and Imran just want to be agents of change.
“It is not every day we think about changing the world for a new generation, but when we do, we should do it from our hearts,” Imran said.
Arsenault Perron and Imran are confident that the Guelph-Humber community will enrich the lives of children but they wonder, “how many lives [Guelph-Humber] is willing to save?”
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