So you think you can’t change the world.

Well, Teagan Manning Adams might have something to say about that.

This Grade 4 student from Osoyoos is an inspiring young boy, who’s going to Africa in April to build a school in Kenya.

No, he’s not a child prodigy, he’s just a kid who wants others to have what he has – an education.

Teagan addressed school trustees last week by saying he loves pizza. He then noted his hobbies are playing guitar, building Lego and “changing the world.”

Last summer he started a club called “The Giving Guys,” a group whose mandate is to raise enough money to build a school in east Africa, where millions of children don’t go to school.

Teagan wants to change this bleak scenario.

In June his mother gave the children a bit of money and challenged them to turn it into more money. Teagan decided to set up a lemonade stand while his brother chose to perform a magic show. In addition to collecting bottles and returning them for money, they raised $1,800 last summer. That figure has grown to $2,200 now.

“Your gift, plus your passion equals change,” Teagan said, noting he and his mother hope to do something better in School District 53.

Teagan wants to get other classes involved in the project in hopes to inspire other children to reach out and help.

It costs about $9,000 to build a school in Kenya, and classrooms across Canada are doing just that through the “Early Entrepreneurs Experiment.” This was started by Taylor Conroy who gave $100 each to 18 elementary school classes and challenged them to turn that into $500. In the end, they raised enough money to build two schools in Kenya.

This is truly inspiring, and Teagan is leading the way in this district.

Trustee Myrna Coates said it right when she stated we need more leaders like Teagan. With that, she handed him a five dollar bill to add to fundraising efforts.

As parents and teachers, we should continually encourage our children to think of ways to change the world and make a positive difference in other people’s lives.

Too many kids are addicted to their iPods and computers that they don’t see what’s going on outside their own little world. It’s all about them and the worshipping of idols who aren’t the best role models on the planet.

It’s so refreshing to see kids like Teagan taking the initiative to go to Africa to bring about change. Let’s hope his philanthropy rubs off.