Young poet wins $10,000 grant for local Habitat for Humanity

A young local poet has been awarded a $10,000 grant for Habitat for Humanity Kingston and Limestone Region in a national writing contest.

Grade 5 student at L’école Madeleine-de-Roybon, Cynthia-Providencia Nguenang submitted an entry to the Meaning of Home contest — Le chez moi est comme — and is one of nine runners-up out of over 12,000 students who participated.

According to a release from the local Habitat for Humanity branch, since 2007, the Meaning of Home contest shares what home means to students in Grades 4, 5 and 6. This year, three grand prize winners and nine runners-up have joined the over 12,000 students across Canada to raise $302,000 for Habitat for Humanity organizations across Canada through their entries. Three grand prize winners won a $30,000 grant to their local Habitat for Humanity organization. Runners-up have won a $10,000 grant for their local Habitat. The organization congratulated all the winners and everyone who entered and earned a $10 donation to their local Habitat for Humanity with their submission.

“This writing exercise offers children an opportunity to express a story of themselves and why a home is so important in their lives,” said Cathy Borowec, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Kingston Limestone Region. “Resoundingly, we hear about the love, laughter, safety and security they feel in their homes. Habitat for Humanity continues to build and advocate so that more families can have the opportunity to benefit from affordable homeownership.”

“Since the Meaning of Home contest began in 2007, over 100,000 students have shared what home means to them. With the support of Sagen as founding sponsor, these students have raised $2.3 million to help more families in need of homes build stronger lives through housing,” said Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Sagen.

The Meaning of Home contest would not be possible without the generous support of Founding Sponsor, Sagen^TM and Award Sponsors Urban Systems Foundation, Face to Face Games, and Home Trust, according to the release.

To read all the winning entries, please visit www.meaningofhome.ca.