Presentations of Global Care Unlimited, a student-led mine action organization

A photographic exhibit entitled: “To Plant Seeds; To Gather Wood: Landmines, the Rural Poor and the War Against Civilians in Cambodia” by Valentina DuBasky was on display in the lobby of the Tenafly Middle School auditorium from March 8th to May 14th, 2004. This exhibit contained 38 photographs accompanied by extensive explanatory captions.

Ms. DuBasky’s exhibit served as an invaluable educational and visual resource for a unit on Cambodia and landmines conducted this spring through the Reading/Study Skills classes on both 6th Grade teams. Every student in these classes toured the exhibit and recorded their reflections for sharing in class. In addition to providing comprehensive visual and textual information regarding the impact of landmines in Cambodia, Ms. DuBasky’s exhibit provided a window into the culture, history and standard of living of rural Cambodians.

As a concluding project, the 6th grade teams decided to raise funds to assist the rehabilitation of landmine survivors in Cambodia. Over the last two months, we have raised over $10,000 (and counting) toward this cause. I believe Ms. DuBasky’s exhibit played a significant part in educating our students about this humanitarian problem as well as in motivating Tenafly students to seek to make a tangible difference in the lives of Cambodian landmine survivors.