Three grand prize winners have been announced in a national writing contest benefitting Habitat for Humanity.
Grand prize winners in the annual Meaning of Home contest were each awarded $30,000 grants for their local Habitat organizations.
“Safety, security, a place of love, a place to grow, play, learn and make memories – these are the things that children say matter most when asked what home means to them,” said Julia Deans, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, in a statement. “Housing provides a foundation for all these things, and we continue to build and advocate so more families can benefit from affordable homeownership.”
The contest, which began in 2007, was open to Grade 4, 5 and 6 students across Canada. Over 12,000 students across Canada raised $302,000 for Habitat for Humanity organizations through their entries. All the winners and everyone who entered earned a $10 donation to their local Habitat for Humanity with their submission.
Léah is the Grade 6 grand prize winner, from Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec. Her grant will help build homes with Habitat for Humanity Quebec.
Here’s here winning poem:
What Home Means to Me
Home is not just a place with four walls and a roof,
It’s not just a place where we sleep and goof.
It’s more than the bricks and the mortar,
It’s the place where we have the most supporters.
Home is where memories are made,
Where laughter and love never fade.
It’s where we find comfort and peace,
Where worries and stress can cease.
Home is where we’re surrounded by love,
Where we’re given a push and a shove.
It’s where we’re taught right from wrong,
Where we learn to be strong.
Home is where we find our identity,
Where our roots and culture are a part of me.
It’s where we learn to be who we are,
Where we find our guiding star.
Home is where we feel acceptance,
Where we’re free from judgment and pretense.
It’s where we find a sense of self,
Where we find our place on the shelf.
Home is where the heart is, they say,
And that’s where we’ll always stay.
It’s where love and family reside,
Where we’ll always find a place to abide.
So, here’s to the home that we hold dear,
May it always be filled with love and cheer.
May it be a place where we always find peace,
And a haven where good souls never cease.
To read all the winning entries, visit www.meaningofhome.ca/page/winners2023.
