The Meaning of Home Contest is BACK!
At Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, we believe that a home is so much more than just a place to live. Home is safety, stability, belonging, and a foundation for the future. That’s why we are proud to help bring the Meaning of Home Contest to classrooms and families across our region once again this year.
This national writing contest invites students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 to share what home means to them—through a short story or poem—and in doing so, help create more safe, affordable homes right here in their own community.
✏️ How the Contest Works
- Open to students in Grades 4–6
- FREE to enter
- Students write a 50–300 word poem or short essay about what home means to them
- For every entry received, $10 is donated to the student’s local Habitat for Humanity, including Habitat Peterborough & Kawartha Region – entries may also qualify schools and classrooms for additional prizes and grants.
➡️ Learn more and sign up at: www.meaningofhome.ca
🏡 Why This Matters Locally
Although the contest is national, the impact is local. Every entry from a student within Peterborough or the Kawarthas, including Lindsay, Bridgenorth, Haliburton and more, results in a $10 donation that supports our Habitat builds – creating more affordable homes for families right here in our community.
No fundraising required.
No cost to participate.
Just young people using their voices to help build hope!
🤝 Local Support: Meaning of Home Ambassadors
We are excited to share that this year, we have partnered with the Patrick McAuley Real Estate Group at Bowes & Cocks Ltd. Brokerage as our Local Meaning of Home Ambassadors.
Patrick, Chantel, and Todd work every day to help people find homes—and now, they are also helping us build them.
Their support helps:
- Raise awareness about the contest in our local schools and community and encourage more students to participate.
- Increase the number of donations made to Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region
We are deeply grateful for their leadership and shared commitment to helping more families access a safe, stable, affordable place to live!
✅ How Teachers & Parents Can Get Involved
Visit www.meaningofhome.ca to register your class or child.
- Discuss the question: “What does home mean to you?”
- Encourage students to write from the heart.
- Submit entries online during the contest period.
Whether you’re a teacher looking for a classroom activity with meaningful impact—or a parent supporting learning at home—participating is simple and deeply rewarding.
By taking part in the Meaning of Home Contest, students in our region can use their creativity to make a real difference. Together—with our schools, families, and partners like the Patrick McAuley Real Estate Group—we can continue to build more homes, more stability, and more hope for local families.