Since the beginning of the school year, we have been working with TakingItGlobal. The many assignments we completed soon earned us the position of TIG's "Pilot Class." During October/November we were first introduced to the ten Understanding topics. As a class, we thought that it was a great addition to the site to expand upon the main global issues of the world, but especially liked the flash intros. But who knew WE, the grade 8's of Macklin Public School, would be expanding on the ten issues even more, with a "Film Festival"?

The TIG Staff told us the news at the end of the year, and in the beginning of 2004, we were put into groups. Before we started on the films, we were assigned to research and know more about our topic that we were given. Facts, statistics, anything that would be useful to us. Then, with a few helpful lessons from certain TIG Staff Members, we learned( or should I say mastered) the use of Movie Maker and Flash. Day after day, we would spend 2-3 periods of class time working on this project that would be open to the public on May 20. We also learned some skills that other normal grade 8 classes wouldn't have the opportunity to achive. We wrote business style letters that were sent off to organizations that supported our topic, made business cards, and even brochures. But the most effort had to be put into our films. Producing, editing, exporting... Then finally the big night came... Everywhere you look, there was people, asking questions at our booths, taking pictures. When it was over, there was a great sigh of relief. The nervousness and anxiety was gone. In that one night, it was over.

In my opinion, I feel really greatful to have this oppotunity to be working with TakingItGlobal. It doesn't seem like we, a class of 13-14 year olds made a big difference by doing what we did in this project, but I knew we were expanding so much more. But it was really our teacher, Mrs. McDonald and our school's IT teacher, Ms. Roliff who really took their time and effort into pushing us so hard to make sure this project was finally completed. On behalf of 8M, thank you to all the members of TakingItGlobal who have helped us so much, for I truly belive that youth CAN change tomorrow.