Edie, Grade 4 Calgary, AB

I was born in Ethiopia and lived there until I was 7. In Ethiopia you do not have much food, water, clothes or shelter. Every day I would walk to the river and stand at the edge getting water in my bucket. Then I would walk all the way home with the bucket on my head so I could use the water to wash clothes, faces, dishes and give water to plants. At the end of the day I would use the water to make dinner. We would all sit together and have a great time! I did not go to school, only my brother did. In Ethiopia most girls stay at home and let their brothers go to school. There was a lot of love in my family but I was having a hard life.

My Birth Mom told me that she was sending me to a place where they would take care of me better. When I was at the place, Mom adopted me and brought me to Canada to live a better life. Now I am in a perfect school with friends. I am in grade four and I have the best education I could possibly imagine. Water comes out of a tap and I know it is clean and safe. I am having a great life and I never want to leave it because of all the love everyone is giving me.

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Jacob, Grade 4
Ste-Marthe sur le Lac, QC

On the list of words that make us feel calm
The word that comes first is obviously MOM.

Then HOUSE would be the next word we think of
Along with the words SAFETY, PEACE and LOVE.

Those words all come together in an ideal country
But where I come from, which is called Haiti,
Poverty and natural disasters
Often stifle these comforting words.

Sofia, Grade 6
Woodbridge, ON

To me home is more than just brick, stone, mud, straw, snow, ice or wood. A home is a place where whether it's 5:00am or noon, if your mom shakes you awake or if it's at your leisure , you wake up. Safe and sound. A warm cozy bed or a pull out couch. You shower, get dressed ,eat and head off to whatever it is you call a regular day. School or work. After your day you can go home and relax and play. You have a nice meal and go to bed.

Kate, Grade 6
Dartmouth, NS

A home is a place to be sick and healthy
A home is a place to be poor and wealthy
A place to laugh
A place to cry
A place to never say goodbye
Somewhere to be safe and warm
Somewhere to stay out of the storm
A shelter to sleep in
A private place to weep in
A place to go after a bad day
A necessity of life

Caitlin, Grade 4
Vancouver, BC

Home is the sight of family.
Home is the sight of beds.
Home is the sight of shelves.
Home is home.

Home is the sound of laughter.
Home is the sound of talking.
Home is the sound of pencil sharpening.
Home is home.

Katie, Grade 6
Wellesley, ON

To some, home is just a place to stay while you sleep,
With windows, doors and food to eat.
It is a place of fighting, disagreement and sadness,
The last thing they think about is gladness.

But to me, home is the exact opposite of that,
Life around my home never goes flat.
A place of encouragement, joy and delight,
That's what makes my home...just right!