Nelly Furtado, well known Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, actress and winner of the Latin Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album showed up today at the Markham District Secondary School to lend a hand to Divya Shah and the Markham P4K Club to pack schoolbags destined for Niger!

Ms. Furtado was warm, genuine and compassionate as she shared stories and inspirational words with the students as they packed the bags.  Divya Shah, President of the Markham P4K club, gave a pencil necklace to Nelly, P4K’s symbol for education, literacy and hope.  Divya told Nelly Frutado about her dreams of becoming a doctor and how “giving” enriches her life.  Together with many students, they filled bags with pencils, pens, notebooks and other supplies, many donated by Mark Gavin from Ecotjot, a socially conscious business that donates one notebook for every journal purchased.

It was a heartwarming morning, culminating in a surprise “hello” to all the grade nine students assembled in the auditorium.  P4K is so grateful to have such a wonderful youth ambassador like Divya, who has organized with her team many bake sales, classroom blitzes and more to raise funds and awareness for P4K.  And we were so honoured that Nelly Furtado took the time to help out, share her insights, and offer her support to P4K!

Ecojot donated supplies for the backpacks going to Niger, and this amazing company donates one notebook to a child in need, for every journal purchased.