Habitat for Humanity Kicks Off National Student Writing Contest

Students from grades 4 to 6 are invited to share what home means to them in an annual national writing contest held by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

ELLYOT READ HER STORY DURING THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF HABITAT’S PHASE TWO PROJECT ON LEAHY’S LANE. She was one of nine runner-ups from last year’s contest. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The contest is open and accepting entries, with submissions being accepted by mail or online until Feb. 23. Habitat’s goal is to receive 15,000 student submissions across Canada this year. 

“Nothing compares to the feeling of strength and security that comes from having a safe place to call home. Every child in Canada deserves to feel this way and that’s why we continue building and advocating for more affordable housing,” says Julia Deans, Habitat president and CEO. “The enthusiastic response to this annual contest where children share in their own words what home means to them is truly inspiring.” 

Every participating student earns Habitat earn a $10 donation provided by the contest sponsors to build safe and affordable homes. Across Canada, three grand prize winners will also receive a $30,000 grant to help their local Habitat for Humanity build homes for families needing affordable housing. In addition, nine runners-up will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity. 

Last year, over 12,000 entries raised $302,000, helping families in 42 communities across Canada build a brighter future through affordable homeownership.  

“We are very excited to have the opportunity again to engage students in conversations about home through the national Meaning of Home contest,” said Jenn MacDonald, Habitat communications and donor services manager. “It is truly amazing to see the level of thought and creativity the students put into their entries and the support of our affordable home-building efforts.” 

In the past four national competitions, there have been four student winners from local schools across the Peterborough and Kawartha Region including two winners from Edmison Heights Public School, one winner from Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s Virtual Elementary School and Ellyot from St. Catherine Catholic Elementary.

Their winning entries have raised a total of $40,000 for Habitat for Humanity PKR Leahy’s Lane developments which has already supported 41 local families and individuals into affordable homeownership in the City of Peterborough according to a press release.

“As this contest’s founding sponsor, we are amazed at the heartfelt student submissions that pour in year after year,” says Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Sagen. “We are proud to have a role in engaging children in caring for their communities at a young age while recognizing how meaningful it is to have a safe place to call home.” 

To enter the contest, parents and teachers can sign up at www.meaningofhome.ca with submissions being accepted until Feb. 23, 2024.  

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Grade Six Student Earns $10,000 Grant For Habitat For Humanity From National Writing Contest

Grade 6 student Ellyot W. earned Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region a $10,000 grant after being announced as a runner-up in the Meaning of Home national writing contest.

Ellyot read her story during the ground-breaking ceremony of Habitat’s phase two project on Leahy’s Lane. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The contest encourages students in Grades 4-6 to share what home means to them through a short essay or poem.

Students were asked what the ‘Meaning of Home’ is to them and 12,265 students were entered into the contest. Ellyot was one of nine runner-ups with her entry ‘What Home Means To Me.’

“I’d like to congratulate Ellyot for her participation and incredible efforts in supporting affordable housing in her community,” said Susan Zambonin, Habitat CEO. “Her winning $10,000 grant will go towards building 12 new affordable homes on the very ground in which she stood and read her winning entry on Tuesday morning. Because of her hard work and heartfelt story, we can help more local families and individuals have access to safe and affordable homeownership.”

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‘The Meaning of Home’ National Student Writing Contest Returns in Support of Local Habitat for Humanity Organizations

Local elementary students Grades 4, 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to share what home means to them in ‘The Meaning of Home’ national writing contest to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region.

Founded by Sagen, the Meaning of Home contest has raised over $2 million to help local Habitats across Canada build decent and affordable housing since 2007.

Three grand prize winners will each receive a $30,000 grant to help a local Habitat for Humanity build a place to call home for a family in need of affordable housing. In addition, nine runners up will receive a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat for Humanity. Winners will be announced by June.

As housing continues to be an important concern for all Canadians, it is children especially who understand how housing can provide their family with a place to study, pursue their dreams and build a better life. Every student who enters the contest will help Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region build safe and affordable homes, because every entry earns a $10 donation towards their local Habitat for Humanity.

“It is so wonderful to see the enthusiastic response each year from parents, teachers and especially the children who enter this contest and share what home means to them in their own words,” say Habitat for Humanity Canada president and CEO Julia Deans. “We know that having a safe and affordable place to call home helps people build better lives and stronger communities.”

Last year over 13,000 entries were received, the largest number of submissions Habitat Canada has ever received for this contest and raised over $311,000. From entries in 2020 and 2021, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region had 3 runner-up winners in grades 5 and 6 which lead to $30,000 in grants towards the 41-unit condo project on Leahy’s Lane in the City of Peterborough, along with a class pizza party and a tablet for the student winners.

“The Meaning of Home contest provides an opportunity to engage youth in discussions around the current state of housing, and to feel inspired about our next generation of leaders,” says Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region communications & donor services manager Jenn MacDonald. “Not only do students have a greater sense of appreciation for home, but they actively participate in giving back to their community. It’s truly a win-win!”

Submissions for this years contest are being accepted by mail or online from Jan. 9 until Feb. 24.

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Two Local Girls Earn $10,000 Grants For Habitat for Humanity In Writing Contest

Elementary school students Olivia Grady and Emma Mattson were runner-ups in the “Meaning of Home” writing contest that earned a $10,000 grant each for Habitat for Humanity announced Monday.

Mattson (left) and Grady (right) were two of over 12,000 entrants across Canada that participated in the contest. Photo Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity.

The nationwide contest invited Canadian kids from grades 4-6 to submit a poem or essay explaining what home means to them.

A winner and three runner-ups are selected from each grade and are awarded $30,000 and $10,000 respectively towards their local habitat build. The earnings will go towards building homes for families in need of a safe and secure place to call home according to the press release.

Matson wrote her poem “Houses and Homes” which earned her a runner-up award, sharing the spot with two other girls representing Habitat Greater Ottawa.

“A house is made of wood and bricks.
A home is made of love and family.
Home is the heart of my family.
Home keeps us all together.

Home reminds us of those good times.
Home means love.
Home means family.
Home helps us make memories.

Our home is always there for us.

When I am in my home, I feel safe.
I feel comfortable in my home.
My home means so much to me.

My home is no ordinary house.
It’s a home.

Our home means more to us in these times.
Covid-19 made us spend more time in our houses than normal.
I now realize what my home really means.
It means family.

Home is wonderful.
When I think of home I think of my indigenous culture.
When I am home, I feel like me.
When I am in my home I think of my family, my culture and my background.

I don’t live in a house.
I live in a home.”

— Emma Mattson

Grady got runner-up with her entry, “What Does Home Mean to Me?” for the grade 6 category.

“Home can mean several things. To me, it doesn’t just resemble a building. Those 4 walls and a roof I’ve spent my whole life in means more than I can explain. The comfort, safety and love that comes from my home makes this place more than what you think.

I know I’m at home when I feel that single feeling of comfort the moment I walk through the door. My dog, greeting me with her kisses and happiness, mom and dad, giving me the hug that I have awaited all day for and my brother so joyous to see everyone together again. However, comfort isn’t just the hug you get when you walk into the house. It’s also helping each other, doing fun things together and knowing that you are loved.

An essential part of home to me is safety. Knowing that in the darkest conditions, I am always safe in my parent’s warm embrace. Safety is trusting that I can come home to escape my sorrow, bitter thoughts and just be myself. It also means to flee the cold rainstorm that I’ve been drenched in to a place that brings me a sense of security and safety. When I’m safe, that’s how I know that I’m at home.

Finally, the heart of my home is love. You don’t have to spell “love” to feel it. The simplest things my family does shows me that they love me whether it’s watching movies together, playing games or just giving each other our time. When someone says “home” I immediately think of love for it is the true key to a happily ever after.

I hope that one day, everyone will have a home to experience the things that I believe home means.”

— Olivia Grady

Sarah Budd, Humanity CEO, expressed her gratitude for the girls’ efforts in earning $22,890 for the habitat build. Each student entry also earns a $10 donation for their local Habitat.

“I’d like to congratulate both Olivia and Emma for their participation and incredible efforts in supporting affordable housing in their community,” she said. “Because of their hard work, these $10,000 grants mean that we can help more local families and individuals have access to safe and affordable homeownership.”

This year’s Meaning of Home contest raised a record of $300,000 for local Habitat for Humanity organizations across Canada.

Full contest results can be found on the contest’s official website.

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Peterborough Public Library Celebrates 100 Years With Writing Contest "Telling Our Stories"

Peterborough Public Library, in celebration of their 100th Anniversary, is hosting a writing contest titled "Telling Our Stories." The deadline for submissions is September 23rd.  The focus of the entry must be based upon how the library has influenced, affected, or inspired you in some way. For those that may need help with their writers' block, there will be a workshop held on Monday, September 12th from 10 a.m. to noon.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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