A group of Grade 8 students in Fredericton has designed a special wish blanket to provide comfort to families at the IWK Health Centre.

“They can be part of something and they can make a difference,” says Dawn Pottier, the Fredericton-based founder of Lulujo, a brand of children’s products sold around the world.

“I always said one day, when we grow large enough and we’re able to, I want to give back.”

Pottier decided to work with a group of girls at Nashwaaksis Middle School to create the blanket and the students set to work, incorporating into the design special wishes for the babies that will use them at the IWK.

“What would be their best wishes for the next generation of babies? What would they wish for them? Courage, happiness, laughter, bravery, and we said create any type of design and we’ll put it together to send that message,” says Pottier.

With wishes ranging from love and hope to hugs and dreams, the students quickly grabbed onto the message and made the project their own.

“Dare to be you. It could express the view that everyone is unique and they’re all their own,” says one student of her wish.

Now that the design is complete, Lulujo will make and donate 350 of the blankets to the IWK this year. They will also be available for purchase online, with all proceeds going to the urgent priorities fund at the children’s hospital.

In addition to giving back to the IWK, the students say they have also gained entrepreneurial skills.

“I feel like that inspired a lot of us to know we could do anything we wanted if we try hard enough,” says one student.

Pottier plans to keep the project going and hopes to select another Maritime school to participate next year.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore