There is nothing more rewarding than seeing young people taking a good idea, making it their own, and running with it full steam ahead.

That is precisely what a group of Guelph high school students is doing with a spinoff of the University’s Bracelet of Hope Campaign. You may recall that U of G began selling the red-and-white bracelets in 2006 as part of its Masai Project: For Africa, for AIDS, for Hope, with the goal of raising $100,000. The project was part of a larger community effort spearheaded by Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik to raise $1 million for an AIDS clinic in Lesotho.

The bracelets are handmade by women from the Inina Craft Agency, a co-operative in Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The women manufacture bracelets and other crafts at home. In addition to providing employment, the co-op also helps support AIDS orphans in the community.

The U of G project went nationwide, with "bracelets of hope" now being sold in other parts of Canada and even in areas in the United States and Britain. To date, more than 115,000 bracelets have been sold. In 2008, the U of G bracelet campaign won an international award from the Conference Board of Canada.

Now students from Guelph’s high schools have picked up the idea and are giving it new direction. They are competing for a grant to make a documentary aimed at spreading awareness about the Bracelets of Hope campaign, as well as the Lesotho’s potential to prosper.

The “Hopeful Documentary” will follow 12 Guelph students as they travel to Lesotho and partner with local Basutho youth for 16 days volunteering locally. Upon their return to Canada, they will encourage youth across Canada to wear a Bracelet of Hope and support he global community.

The Guelph high school students have made a video pitching their project, and entered it and their documentary idea in a contest from the Aviva Community Fund. They have been selected as semi-finalists. If the students win, they’ll receive $500,000 for their project.

In their video entry, the students stress how the bracelet campaign is all about hope for a better life and future for people in Africa. They also stress it is about young Canadians coming together to make a difference. I couldn’t agree more.

Seeing these young people working so hard, and with such enthusiasm and dedication, to keep Bracelets of Hope active and visible gives me hope, hope for the campaign’s longevity and for the future, knowing we have up-and-coming citizens so committed to making this world a better place.

The winner of the Aviva Community contest will be decided by votes from the public. I encourage everyone from the University and Guelph communities and beyond to go the website, watch the students’ video entry, and give them your support.