Students Saving Lives

Earn Community Service Hours Towards Graduation

Community Involvement Activities for Grade 9-12 Students across Canada

 

Knowing about Canada’s Stem Cell Registry is the right of every citizen.

This well-established community service initiative aims to educate you about the power of joining Canada’s Stem Cell Registry with Canadian Blood Services. Learn about stem cell donation through online activities and earn community service/involvement hours towards graduation. Earn up to 40 hours by hosting recruitment events for the National Registry. Students 17 and older may join the registry for free, by mail.

Thousands of Canadian students have participated in Students Saving Lives since it began by an Ottawa student in 2021. People of diverse ethnicities are greatly needed to help those waiting. Canadian students have the ability to transform this landscape for future generations. 

Enhance your civil awareness before graduation. Start earning hours today. Add Hero to your resume.

Students Saving Lives

How to participate

 

This opportunity is for Grade 9-12 secondary school students across Canada who are required to earn community service hours towards their graduation diploma. Earn up to 40 community service/involvement hours by completing some or all of the recommended activities. Record your completed hours on the Community Service form provided by your school. Parents/guardians have the authority to approve the completed hours with their signature in coordination with the procedures outlined by individual school Guidance Departments.

  • Activities 1-8: Stem Cell Education (5 hours)
  • Activities 9-10: Stem Cell Registration (5 hours) (must be at least 17 years of age) 
  • Activities 11-12: Stem Cell Recruitment (up to 40 hours)

This pan-Canadian initiative conforms to community involvement standards for Ministries of Education across Canada including Ontario’s PPM 124a. Quebec students are excluded since this province operates under Hema-Quebec. See also: Catholic Support for Ethically Acceptable Stem Cell Research. 

Download the printable poster and share it with your school community.

Students Saving Lives: Stem Cell Education
Complete Activities 1-8 for five hours of “Stem Cell Education”

 

Complete some or all of the activities listed below for up to five (5) hours of community service. Record the hours on your school’s record form and label it Stem Cell Education. Ask a parent/guardian to verify your participation with their signature.

Activity 1

Watch Video
Stem Cell Donation

Activity 2

Watch Video
Patient and Donor Experience

Activity 3

Watch Video
Stem Cells 101

Activity 4

Watch Video
How to Join the Stem Cell Registry

Activity 5

Watch Video
How Stem Cell Donation Works

Activity 6

Watch Video
Why Join the Stem Cell Registry

Activity 7

Read

Read the Stem Cell Donor and Patient Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Activity 8

Reflect

 Reflect on what you’ve learned. Speak with family or friends. Do some of your own research. Consider what impact you could have if you decided to join the registry.

Students Saving Lives: Stem Cell Registration
Complete Activities 9-10 for five hours of “Stem Cell Registration”

 

Complete Activities 9 and 10 for a total of five (5) hours of community service. Record the hours on your school’s record form and label it Stem Cell Registration.  Ask a parent/guardian to verify your participation with their signature. Please note that only students aged 17 years old and older are permitted to complete Activities 9 and 10 outlined below. Students who complete their registration will receive certificate for framing from Canadian Blood Services. 

Activity 9

If you are 17 years old or older, register to become a potential stem cell donor. Visit blood.ca/StudentsSavingLives and take the eligibility questionnaire before registering for a kit to be sent to you home.   

Activity 10

After registering, a swab kit will be mailed to your home within 2-3 weeks. Swab the inside of your cheeks and return the envelope via mail. All postage is paid. Simply my joining, you’ve given hope to someone waiting. 

Students Saving Lives: Stem Cell Recruitment
Complete Activities 11-12 for up to 40 hours of “Stem Cell Recruitment” 

Complete Activities 11 and/or for up to 40 hours of community service. Record the hours on your school’s record form and label it Stem Cell Recruitment  Ask a parent/guardian to verify your participation with their signature. These two activities require direct contact with Canadian Blood Services staff in order to coordinate recruitment activities. 

Activity 11

Host a one-hour #GetSwabbed event in your school community with custom kits from Canadian Blood Services (CBS). Share your event on social media. Set up a table and answer important questions. Hold a themed event or focus on the need for ethnically-diverse donors to save even more lives! Technically trained volunteers through CBS are available to help you host and answer questions. One teacher representative and two students required. Earn up to 10 hours of community service by completing the recruitment booth set up checklist and carrying out your event. Email Chris.VanDoorn@blood.ca to get started. 

Activity 12

Invite 10 or more heroes join the Stem Cell Registry over the summer (between June 24 and September 7, 2024) and enter to win up to $6,500 toward your 2024-2025 post-secondary tuition! Open to Grade 12 students across Canada, excluding Quebec. No purchase or donation required. Students who participate in recruiting blood and plasma donors are also eligible to participate in this scholarship opportunity. Earn up to 40 hours of community service. Register to participate.

Visit blood.ca/AssignmentSavingLives

Thank you for your community involvement and for now being aware of the impacts of a robust national stem cell registry!

Students Saving Lives
Letter to the Community

Dear Secondary Schools across Canada –

 

A unique Community Service Opportunity is currently available to all public, Catholic, and private Grade 9 to 12 students across Canada. This opportunity enables students to complete community service hours to be counted towards graduation while also possibly saving a life. This activity conforms to the guiding principles outlined by Canadian education ministries and can be completed from the safety of home.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is a well-established school-community sponsor who has historically involved high school students in various pre-approved activities, such as blood donation. Due to tremendous need, CBS is offering activities related to joining the Canadian Stem Cell Registry. 

Globally, stem cell registries are predominantly Caucasian (70%). People of diverse ethnicities are greatly needed to increase the chances for those waiting. Canadian students have the ability to transform this landscape for future generations.

Thousands of Canadian students have already participated and accumulated hours through this initiative which began in 2021, and hundreds have actually joined the registry. It is our hope that Students Saving Lives can become an annual rite of passage for young Canadians who are willing and able to participate.

There are currently 1,000 Canadians waiting for a match. My daughter, Hillary, is one of them. One of your students may choose to offer the life-saving gift she requires. I am a well-respected member of my Ottawa community with a United Way Community Builder’s Award and Mayor’s Citation, an OCSB Director of Education’s Commendation Award, and an international following. I am privileged and honoured to have the opportunity to connect student volunteers with a meaningful way to be of service to their community, through this worthy initiative.

Your feedback is most welcome and greatly appreciated as we strive to improve the ways in which this heroic opportunity is offered to those eligible in Canada. Because everyone deserves an equal chance. 

Thank you.

Yours in community service,

Kelly McKibbin
StartWithHillary.ca/Students-Saving-Lives
KMcKibbin@startwithhillary.ca | 613-818-7484
In approved partnership with Canadian Blood Services
Chris.VanDoorn@blood.ca | www.blood.ca/StudentsSavingLives

“I learned about Students Saving Lives through a volunteer opportunity and the information I learned was incredibly interesting and valuable. I look forward to being old enough to register to be a stem cell donor and I believe it’s an incredibly important cause. I would encourage any young people to get more information on stem cells through Canadian Blood Services and to spread awareness!”

Amy M.

Ontario Secondary School Student

Questions or comments

Please direct all questions or comments to KMcKibbin@StartWithHillary.ca or Chris.VanDoorn@blood.ca. 

Students Saving Lives

In the Media

 

These resources support the credibility of the Students Saving Lives program and the support it has received across Canada. Please refer to these tools to enhance your understanding of the need to strengthen and diversify Canada’s Stem Cell Registry. 

 

 

See also…

 

CFRA Ottawa Now with CTV's Patricia Boal

Dec 28, 2021