Montana middle-school students build wheelchairs to help kids with disabilities. ROC Wheels

“I feel like we don’t empower youth to do what they’re capable of doing—they’re capable of doing so much more than we ever give them credit for,” Hanson said. “Even as kids, they can change the world.”

Former teacher LeeAnn Hanson has found a great way to motivate students: Give them a cause.

In 2003, Hanson co-founded ROC Wheels http://www.rocwheels.org/ — a Bozeman-based nonprofit that designs and distributes wheelchairs to disabled children in non-industrialized nations — with her husband Wayne.

She began reaching out to students three years ago. Kids at Emily Dickinson School made ceramic necklaces and fabric wheelchair dolls, which they sold to sponsor ROC wheelchairs.

After the chairs were distributed to children in need in countries like Mexico, Morocco and Iraq, ROC Wheels brought back videos and photographs to show the students how their contributions had changed other children’s lives.

By LAUREN RUSSELL Chronicle Staff Writer

Full Story: http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/11/09/news/100roc.txt