Youths shine on Action Day
[from the Ottawa Sun - Sun, May 6, 2007]

By ALEX HEBERT, SUN MEDIA

Roman Caballero's brow furrowed with concentration as he dabbed glue onto the outside of a large yellow star constructed of wood and tissue paper.

"It's so hard to make," said the 15-year-old Lester B. Pearson high school student while putting the finishing touches on his piece. "I've been working on it for the last hour."

Around him, 50 other students packed the Stanley Park Field House in New Edinburgh Park, helping prepare 100 lanterns to be used at the Lumiere Festival this August.

Their efforts yesterday were part of the United Way's Youth Action Day, in which 470 kids fanned out across the city to work with various community organizations on projects ranging from spring cleaning to fundraising to making paper lanterns.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Now in its seventh season, Youth Action Day is designed to give kids an opportunity to acquire some of the 40 hours of community service required for them to graduate as well as help foster a sense of community spirit.

"This initiative is so wonderful," said Joanne Hughes, producer of the Lumiere Festival. "They (kids) are so creative it's great to see what they'll come up with."

In the middle of the room, about 15 kids worked on a large sphere of multicoloured tissue paper attached to a wooden frame.

"This is the big one," said Alomayhu Daniel, 16, from Lester B. Pearson.

"It's not quite a sphere yet, but it'll look good when it's done."

Around the room, various colourful lanterns ranging in shape from pyramids to jars were nearing completion.

The lanterns will be lit with candles to guide festivalgoers through New Edinburgh Park in August.