It isn’t often children tell their friends and parents they don’t want any birthday gifts.
However, when he was 11 years old, that’s exactly what Justin LaBreche did, telling everyone he wanted to use his birthday as an opportunity to raise money for Childcare INTERNATIONAL, a Surrey-based charity sponsoring children in developing countries.
“I told them that I didn’t really like feel like having gifts and I just wanted to give something to someone else instead,” said Justin. “I was, like, you know–not going to get gifts. Turned out a lot better than I expected.”
Justin and his family have been sponsoring children through the charity since about 2007. Over the last four years, the teen has been working more closely with Childcare INTERNATIONAL to raise money to support their food and education programs.
Since 1979, the Surrey-based charity has been feeding and educating children in Mexico, Uganda and Haiti, among other places. But since Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake, Childcare INTERNATIONAL says it’s been a struggle to stay in touch with the children they’ve been helping in the Caribbean nation.
It was during a conversation with charity sponsors that Justin and his mom saw an opportunity to help.
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“I looked at Justin and we said, ‘we can do that!'”
With that, the idea was born. Now, just two weeks before his trip, 15-year-old Justin has raised $3,200, with help from mom, of course. All the money will go towards feeding and educating children in Haiti. The family has also received a donation of two wheelchairs from the Canadian Wheelchair Foundation.
“Thirty-two hundred dollars is going to have a massive impact on the ones that Justin and his family will meet personally. In their lives, it’s life-changing and life-giving,” said Rod Forrest, the charity’s executive director.
While in Haiti, Justin will be meeting the children his family has been supporting, as well as other children being supported by families in Canada. He’ll be travelling to different parts of the country, documenting the trip on social media–specifically through the charity’s Twitter account.
Justin said he hopes to continue working with and raising money for Childcare INTERNATIONAL long after this trip.
“I want to continue going through the organization throughout my whole life.”
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