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Make a Difference in Your Local Schools with OWLS
Many of our Clubs are already doing incredible work in partnership with local schools, but what if there was a way to highlight and amplify that impact? That’s the goal of OWLS — Optimists Working for Learning Success.
The OWLS program serves as an educational umbrella, helping us track our collective engagement and impact in schools and communities. It provides a focus for Clubs looking for a Signature Program and is a wonderful tool for membership recruitment. By creating an official framework, we can develop stronger partnerships with schools and eventually earn endorsements from national educational associations, becoming the premier service organization supporting local schools.
OWLS projects can include a wide range of activities your Club may already be doing, such as:
- Mentoring and tutoring
- Providing school supplies, hygiene items or weekend food packages
- Chaperoning field trips, judging science fairs or conducting mock interviews
To support these valuable projects, your Club can consider obtaining funding from our foundations—the Optimist International Foundation (OIF) and the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation (CCOF).
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit the links below:
Ready to get started? The path to launching an OWLS program in your community is straightforward:
- Research & Prepare: Identify local schools and determine your Club’s capacity and focus. Prioritize 3 key areas where your Club can assist.
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Build Relationships: Reach out to school leaders to discuss how you can work together. To help with your initial outreach, download our customizable email template here.
- Implement: Launch your first activity, monitor its progress, and collect feedback to ensure its success.
By uniting under this initiative, we can create a safe, comfortable, and productive environment for students everywhere. Let's work together to help our students succeed!
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