An annual fundraiser put on by the Edmonton Islamic Academy (EIA) is aiming to teach students to combat hate with kindness. Students raised about $2,000 and a van full of groceries at this year’s Legends Legacy Run for the C5 Northgate Food Bank, which provides necessities for families in the city through organizations like Boyle Street and Terra Centre. EIA principal Abraham Abougouche says the event is meant to get students involved in the community. “It’s not simply a fundraiser. It’s about developing leadership. It’s about getting students actively involved, getting them to connect … getting them to understand that they have a role to play as Edmontonians,” he said on Thursday. In turn, the academy also looks to help students gain confidence in responding to Islamophobia or other instances of hate. “It’s no secret at this point. At times our school and our students have faced hate rhetoric … We teach them to respond by service, by giving back, by showcasing who we really our, what our school is actually about,” Abougouche said. “This is an opportunity for us to showcase the Edmonton Islamic Academy and what we do and what we offer our city.” C5 executive director Mohamed Elsaghir says the kids have done an “amazing service” in raising money for the organization. “It’s absolutely amazing for us to see this. It’s a humbling experience to see the impact it will have on our families, and the amount of dedication that these teachers and students have in supporting the community at large,” he said. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Sean McClune
