Innovation Faire Turns Inventors into Philanthropists at Seven Arrows

By SIERRA DAVIS | Pali Life Editor

Most sunscreens on the market contain toxic chemicals that do more harm than good, according to Seven Arrows Elementary School sixth grader Katherine Kihiczak. To offer her peers an alternative, Kihiczak researched homemade sunscreen recipes and created a batch of her own using bee’s wax, coconut oil, zinc oxide and other natural oils. The young inventor sold her all-natural sunscreen to her peers at the Sixth Grade Innovation Faire on campus May 15 and 21.

In correlation with their ethical leadership projects, sixth grade students developed and manufactured innovative and handmade projects, sold to their peers, faculty and families for $1 to $10. The project crosses the entire curriculum as the students making their products and applying the Scientific Method to their process in STEAM. They must create an investor’s contract, keep an expense sheet and set a price point, design print ads and display boards. All proceeds were donated to charities related to each sixth grade student’s chosen service project.

The $7 profit garnered from each sale of Kihiczak’s sunscreen will benefit Dollies Making a Difference, a Palisades-based non-profit that creates handmade dolls for children the world over in need.

“It’s a great organization for children to help other children. I think it means a lot to those who receive the dolls to know that someone across the world cares enough about them to give them something they can have for their own,” she said.

Head of School, Margarita Pagliai, said the project is designed to encourage innovative thinking and provide real world application for what they are learning in class.

“The students were really motivated because of the connections to their ethical leadership projects,” Pagliai said. “This project empowers every student to think creatively, take action and find the reward of giving back to the community through charity.”

Diego Mazo, creator of the PVC-pipe computer stand, chose to donate his profits to Water for South Sudan. After reading a book in class about a Sudanese boy who walked eight hours each day to access clean water, Mazo said he was inspired to support an organization that provides access to clean, safe water.

“We have all the water we need – easily – and not everyone has the chance,” he said.

Julia Ward, lover of books and dancing, was inspired to support the non-profit, The Wooden Floor, an organization that annually gives underserved youth opportunities through dance. Ward created the “Quick Start Bookmark,” which allows reader to mark the exact spot they left off, to benefit the cause.

“I love reading and love to have tons of different bookmarks – I thought it would be nice to improve upon them,” the 12-year-old said. “I’m glad to support an organization that uses the power of dance to inspire children and give them access to education, which is so important.”

During a recent trip, Kai McGrath found it difficult to refill his water bottle in a shallow airport water fountain. Wanting to make using refillable water bottles easier, he created a water bottle filler using clear plastic tubing attached to a small funnel that allows users to fill their bottles under any faucet. The tubing hooks around the bottle with small Velcro strips, for maximum portability. Profits will benefit Youth Mentoring Connection, an organization supporting at-risk youth.

To benefit Camp del Corazon, a non-profit summer camp for children with heart disease, held on Catalina Island, Alessandra Abemayor made more than 100 yin-yang keychains tagged with a unity message written in Japanese, “We are one.”

“We’re all connected, all related, so we should treat each other with love and respect – and smiles,” Abemayor said of the key chains’ message. “Even if you are strangers, you can still offer a smile.”