Golden K contributes again to Roots of Empathy

By Greg McNeil
Published June 21, 2010 in the Cape Breton Post
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2010-06-21/article-1401946/Golden-K-contributes-again-to-Roots-of-Empathy/1

SYDNEY, NOVIA SCOTIA — A community group has again had little trouble expressing their feelings for a program designed to help children do the same.

For the seventh year running, the Kiwanis Golden K have invested in Roots of Empathy, a program that encourages compassion and sensitivity among students by bringing a baby into classrooms.

“We were impressed with it right from the start,” said Golden K member Clarence Seward, after the club gave a $10,000 donation to the program.

“At the Kiwanis Golden and all the Kiwanis clubs, our motto is children are priority one, so when they came forward with the Roots of Empathy it was a perfect fit.”

In partnership with Eastlink, the Golden K has provided more than $40,000 since the program started in 2003.

“They were only supposed to do it for five years. but the gap has always been there with the government,” said Jim Mustard, ROE co-ordinator for Eastern Nova Scotia.

“We believe the government will eventually give this the backing it needs, but until that time we really rely on this type of consistent leadership.”

Mustard said the donation is especially important this year after H1N1 concerns suspended a number of programs in the Sydney area last year.

“This year we just want to stabilize and get back to where we were, plus offer some of these new schools the chance to get started.”

The donation was made during a meeting of the Golden K at the Cedar’s Club. During that meeting members offered their first-hand accounts of the program’s impact.

Don MacAulay’s grandson was one of the Roots of Empathy babies at Cusack school.

After observing the sessions, he realized the program was great for the child and the students.

“One young boy, who obviously had a tough attitude, didn’t want anything to do with this program,” he said about an early session.

“As the year went on I watched this young fellow and every month he would come up one row closer and would come closer and closer until finally he was up there with the child.”

At the end of the year, MacAulay said the boy was the most enthusiastic child in the classroom.

Michelle MacLean, a ROE instructor and children’s aid employee, also spoke positively about the program.

“I see all kinds of children who have aggressive tendencies become more gentle, especially when the baby is in to visit,” she said. “Throughout the year the teachers comment on how these children in general become more gentle and less aggressive.”

Reserved children also become more outgoing, she said.

Mustard said studies have shown the program has reduced bullying by 80 per cent as well although its focus is not on bullying.