Island Oak High School students want to fight poverty and give you a fun afternoon out at the same time.
This Saturday, April 12, the student committee will be presenting a show called Talent for Charity at the Sylvan United Church on Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road at 3 p.m. Half the proceeds from the event will go to One! International Poverty Relief to fund schools for children living in the slum areas of Mumbai, India.
Grade 11 student Taya Wall has had a personal connection to Mumbai since her time volunteering there eight years ago and she's taking action.
"It shocked me how different their society is from ours, and how privileged we are without knowing it," she said.
Wall has vowed to do everything she can from here in Canada to help the situation in Mumbai.
"I feel very strongly about everyone having a fair and equal chance," she said.
Principal Gary Ward praised his students' initiative.
"Doing something for students elsewhere in the world helps our students to know this is not the only place on the planet," he said in talking about the upcoming performance.
The Island Oak High School Choir are the featured act, performing selections from Les Misérables, but they will also be supported by noted Valley choir director Annette Lampson and pianist Ron Kilian.
The presentation will also include the Glenora Handbell Choir and singer-songwriters Aidan Thorne and Paul Ruszel plus additional Island Oak students and other Valley performers.
Entry is by donation at the door.