Jan. 05, 2012

With the help of a $1,000 Vital Schools grant, Jeff Andrews and Frietzen Kenter are bringing the international “Love is Louder” campaign to their school and community in Dorchester, Ontario.

In response to the call for applications to the Vital Schools grant program in 2011, London Community Foundation received 7 applications. Ideas ranged from a community based physical fitness program, to a neighbourhood garbage clean-up campaign, to various tree planting and garden planning projects, to a ‘school to work’ program aimed at assisting students at risk of not graduating.

One application that really stood out was a "Love is Louder Campaign" from two students on the Safe Schools Committee at Lord Dorchester Secondary School - Frietzen Kenter and Jeff Andrews. 

Our school is already a central part of the community as meeting place, sports facility, and location for charitable events such as last year’s Relay for Life.  Our goal is to foster this sense of belonging within the community and to build on it with a Love is Louder campaign. ~ Jeff and Frietzen

The love is louder campaign was launched in the United States after the lives of multiple teenagers were lost to suicide in September 2010. The movement strives to amplify the momentum of other inspiring online campaigns and invites anyone who has felt mistreated, misunderstood or isolated into the conversation. 

Kenter  and Andrews believe their Love is Louder campaign as executed through volunteers on their Safe Schools Committee, will add significantly to a sense of belonging, inclusion, and acceptance of others.