The Ladybug Foundation Inc.

My daughter sent me an email yesterday that simply read "I love this kid!" and was followed by an internet address: http://www.ladybugfoundation.ca/

I followed the link and spent several minutes on the Web site of the Ladybug Foundation getting to know about the wonderful work they do.

The Ladybug Foundation was inspired by a young lady called Hannah. Hannah believes that “that if people know about homelessness – that there are people living without a home – they will want to help.” Her goals are stated as follows on the foundations' Web site:

1. To teach people that homeless people are just like you and me they just need us to love them and care for them.
2. To teach everyone to treat homeless people like family because if you do that you will love them in all the right ways and you will treat them in all the right ways and care for them in all the right ways.
3. To teach people that no one should ever eat from a garbage can or live without a bed or a home and to let them know that there are people that have to because they have no choice.
4. To ask every person who will listen to help however they can to make life for our homeless people better.
5. To teach people that homelessness is not sad if you help.

In 2007, the National Film Board of Canada produced a documentary on Hannah. It is simply called "Hannah's Story" . Below is the description of the 29 minute video extracted from the NFB's site:

This engaging documentary gives new meaning to the term ‘role model.’ Normally we think of children learning from their elders, but here is the story of an 11-year-old girl who is already inspiring adults to make a difference.

When she was just 5, Hannah Taylor spotted her first homeless person in the back alleys of Winnipeg. That momentous sighting not only troubled her but it drove her to do nothing less than change the world, leading to the establishment of the impressive Ladybug Foundation. Under Hannah’s leadership, that charity has raised over a million dollars, literally making change for those lacking life’s basic needs.

As this absorbing documentary shows, Hannah insists on being seen as normal, but clearly she possesses an extraordinary can-do attitude. Her message is disarmingly straightforward, coming as it does from “little kid type theories”: “share a little of what you have and always care about others.” Whether it’s organizing “Big Boss” lunches, speaking to students or to a prime minister, Hannah’s capacity to help others is huge, unflagging, and, ultimately, humbling. We all have a lot to learn from Hannah’s Story.

What a beautiful role model to present to the children we teach, especially during the upcoming season of Lent.

I invite you to explore the Ladybug Foundation Inc. Web site, to read and listen to some of Hannah's talks, to become aware of the Foundations' works and needs, and perhaps feel inspired to take a small step to help homeless people in your community.