One Life…Many Gifts is an educational program about organ and tissue donation and transplantation for secondary school students. This unit of study stresses the importance of healthy living and decision-making. Within this context, a wide range of case studies expose the students to the world of donation and transplantation. Students become aware of healthy lifestyle choices that may prevent the need for transplantation. Students who have otherwise not thought about organ donation make personal decisions about signing a donor card. They discuss this issue at home so family members are aware of each other’s wishes.

Underlying this education strategy is the belief that it is far more preferable and effective to make decisions about donation when rational and thorough discussion can take place at home and in the classroom, rather than at a time of crisis and grief in a hospital.

With funding from the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Multi-Organ Transplant Program at London Health Sciences Centre worked with local educators to develop this program. The pilot project at London Central Secondary School was a huge success. Since then, all secondary schools in the Thames Valley District School Board and the London Catholic District School Board have adopted One Life…Many Gifts for use in the classroom.