Civics and citizenship are making a comeback in some schools but it's not like the 50s and 60s when people were taught directly to make better places of their communities.

So the recent presentation of awards to 13 Ontario youth by Lt.-Gov. David Onley are even more remarkable because of what the kids have achieved in spite of today's self-absorbed, opportunistic society.

The Ontario Junior Citizen Awards had 120 nominees this year. The newspapers of Ontario pull together the great stories of kids gone right and the office of the Lieutenant Governor bestows the recognition on a dozen select individuals or groups.

There were two nominees recognized from our area. John Phillips Jr., a student at Collingwood Collegiate Institute, plays soccer at the national level in spite of a physical disability. Zachary Walton, a student at Jean Vanier High School, doesn't let his disability or his wheelchair get in the way and is a spokesperson for the March of Dimes.

Some years, there are examples of kids who respond as good citizens and heroes in the face of danger by putting their lives on the line. That's not the case this year where the 13 winners were named for good old-fashioned community building.

Here are their stories and I'll ask you now, what have you done for your community lately?

Margaret Atkinson, eight, and Lilly Lynch, eight, from London raised $30 for a goat for a Sudanese family and then got buy-in from their whole school which together bought 210 more goats.

Nazim Bhimani, 14, a student at the E.C. Drury School for the Deaf in Milton raised $3,200 so the entire Grade 8 class could afford to participate in a class trip to Quebec City.

Daniel Francavilla, 17, of Brampton started his own charity and has raised more than $20,000 to send to Honduras, Colombia, and Dominican Republic for schools and supplies.

Ashleigh Gisel, 10, of Welland held two large garage sales to raise money for food for Open Arms Mission. She challenged school students in the area and her food drive raised a truck full of food.

Sophia Gran-Ruaz, 15, of Mississauga created her own charity Snug-as-a-Bug, Kids Helping Kids in 2004. More than 4,000 women and children entering shelters in Mississauga and Brampton have received gift packages to help ease them with the transition.

Julie Harmgardt, 17, of Oakville published a benefit book for Killbear Provincial Park and is working on a second book for the park's 50th anniversary.

Lee Martin, 17, of Barrie used a small Dare to Dream Foundation grant and formed Stop the Silence, to talk about how mental illness has affected her life and ways to overcome it.

Alexa Maxwell, 17, of Sioux Lookout became a respected leader and voice for the youth of her community volunteers at the youth centre, sits on an anti-racism committee and organizes fundraising events to raise awareness.

Kieran McFarlane, just six years old, from Cobourg has had friends donate supplies for the animal shelter and toys for kids in the hospital. Kieran believes that little kids can do "good things" too.

Alexandre Petroski, 9, of Lavigne raised $6,300 in two weeks after losing a cousin to brain cancer.  His quest has touched the entire community and encouraged everyone to get behind the search for a cure.

Anthony Protomanni, 13, of Woodbridge is a positive role model and ambassador for Friends of We Care. He speaks to various groups to raise awareness as well as funds to send physically disabled kids to summer camp.

Coletyn Thompson, 12 of Tillsonburg learned how to be a clown this year so he could help make kids laugh at the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, despite receiving chemo and radiation to fight his own cancer.

Larry Culham is managing editor of The Sun. Your comments and feedback are welcome at sunnews@simcoe.com