Working with young minds to give children the skills to investigate and utilize their environment has been the goal and indeed, occupation for some thirty-five years for Rex and Karin Marshall. Years spent at the Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High levels. Thirty of these years were in the Beaverlodge area of the County of Grande Prairie school system. Rex, at various times, was Principal of the Elementary and Senior High Schools. One year was spent participating in an International Teaching Fellowship in Australia. They sat with the Foundation to reflect upon why creating a fund was important.
Our daughter became motivated to assist less developed countries, especially in female gender issues and this factor began our involvement with the continent of Africa and more specifically Ethiopia. A number of trips to Ethiopia revealed to us, the extent to which assistance for development work could have a great value for improving the wellbeing of peoples there. Indeed, our daughter, with her husband and two children have now spent in excess of twenty-five years in Ethiopia and Tanzania. Our son was very instrumental in developing and maintaining an orphanage in Uganda and still involved in the operation.
Our involvement with the Beaverlodge community was extensive. From assisting with Sunday school and other youth groups, coaching various athletic teams at both the Elementary and Senior High level, to actively participating in community organizations like golf, curling, arts programs, youth camping and even politics. (Rex was town councillor and mayor for a number of years.)
Our world travels have given us a “world view” of the aspirations, needs, and beliefs of many of the world inhabitants. We have travelled to every continent, including Antarctica. It is our belief that all peoples do have similar goals for themselves and their children. If our globe is to survive we must learn to understand these aspirations.
You can make a difference in our community – not only for today but forever. When you make a donation to the Rex and Karin Marshall Education and Wellness Fund, we invest that gift into a permanent endowment fund and the original gift is never spent. Earnings from your gift are distributed to the Beaverlodge and immediate surrounding community to support education, mental health and food security, along with food and water security in Africa. Donations can be made online here – https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/64163 or by calling the Community Foundation at (780) 538-2820.
