The United Nations estimates that by the end of 2005, there were 15.2 million children orphaned by the aids epidemic in Africa. That number is hard to wrap my mind around. Several years ago, when I heard about this incredible devastation happening halfway around the world, it broke my heart. I knew I could not help every one of the over fifteen million orphans, but I could make a difference to some. I became involved with a local, nonprofit organization called New Hope Children’s Community. This organization partners with a Kenyan pastor to fund an orphanage for seventy children left parentless because of aids. New Hope provides shelter and food for the children, as well as school uniforms, text books, and tutoring so the they can earn an education and have hope for a better future.
I found out that all it takes to keep a child in Kenya from starving is ten cents a day, which provides a meal of rice and beans. New Hope gave me a can to collect change in, using the slogan “Dime-a-Day” to represent feeding one child a day with one dime. During my sophomore year of high school, I collected two hundred dollars in my can- two thousand meals. My junior year I wanted to help even more, so I organized a competition between four local high schools, including my own, to raise money. My goal was five hundred dollars in change, which I thought an ambitious step up from last year’s total. I set up presentations at all four schools by board members of New Hope in order to educate students on the need in Kenya. Students who wanted to took Dime-a Day cans and asked for donations. As part of the month-long fundraiser, I called Boomers, a local arcade, and set up a Dance Dance Revolution marathon. Students raised pledges to compete on the game. Also, I began sewing decorations on sweaters and selling them to my friends, donating the profit to the orphanage.
In all, we raised over five thousand dollars! That was fifty thousand meals and ten times my goal. I was blown away. My confidence in my leadership abilities increased and I discovered that I could impact more lives than I had thought. Because I stepped up to raise money for the orphans at New Hope, four high schools provided enough money for the orphans to eat three meals a day for the next eight months. Not only did I gain confidence, I also learned perspective.
Hearing about how few material goods the people in Africa had affected me deeply. I realized how much I was blessed with here in the United States. I had both of my parents, a house of my own, and hundreds of luxuries I take for granted, such as chocolate and hot showers. I also became convicted of how much I wasted my money on frivolous things while millions of other people were dying because they could not support themselves. When I realized that the twenty five dollars that I could spend on a new pair of jeans (that I didn’t need) could alternately provide two hundred and fifty meals for Kenyan aids orphans, there was really no contest. I promised myself not to buy clothes for a year. Instead, I gave the money to the orphanage. I thought it would be a refreshing change to experience the life of most Kenyans, not able to buy new clothes whenever they feel like it.
From raising money and awareness of the situation in Kenya, I gained a passion for serving people, especially those in Africa. That is where my heart is. Never again will I underestimate the number of lives I can change when I am willing to step up and speak out for those in need.
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I went through similar situations too. I have a very soft heart...if I know someone is having a trouble, I would jump in and try my best to help. However, sometimes I feel that before we can lend our hand to people from outside of our community, we have to fix things in out city first. So, I'm trying to educate younger kids as much as I can. I even try those in the same age as I am. You know what's funny? They do not listen to me when I speak due to my age. If my teacher and I say exactly the same thing, my friends...and other kids are most likely to listen to the teacher. But hey, we're trying our best and that's what counts right? Good Luck with your journey. I will keep up with mine and hopefully we'll meet half way.
I never thought i'd ever know someone personally with aids. i knew it was around but i didn't think it was so close to me. I see it on television about the children in Africa and even people here in the united states but it never came to my mind that someone in my family could have it. I really devastated me. it hurts to know about someone else but when the person is close to you it's a pain that you can't bear sometimes you wish that there was something you could do to make it go away but you soon figure out that there is nothing you can do about it but live with it and pray.
My heart goes out to you so much. I hope that you can find peace, even through all the pain.
this is so touching. you're an incredible person. I know about the aids epidemic in Africa and people dying but i never thought beyond that. As i read your blog, i now consider helping those people in Kenya. I don't think i can right now, but i definetly will in the future. thank you for writing this. YOu've influenced heart in me, that i, as one person could make a difference.
That is so encouraging! Obviously, I would love for you to get invloved, especially because there is so much to do!
Wow YOU are an amazing person. I would never have ideas like yours. Once I get my BSN I want to volunteer at something like an orphanage for a year. Help spread the word on how to prevent AIDS in Africa or something. Do you have a website or other contact info to New Hope Children’s Community.
Thank you so much for sharing this opportunity with us.
A real way to make a diffrence, even if only a little dime.
~Me
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
Yes, New Hope's website is www.newhopekenya.org. There are pictures and bios of the orphans there, which is my favorite part. Also. New Hope has a myspace: www.myspace.com/newhopekenya.
That is amazing and you need to continue to spread the word, like you're doing now. Americans are so jaded these days and a lot of people don't contribute to charities because they feel that (sometimes rightly so) their money won't go to where it's supposed to. If we have small charities like that spread around more people will contribute more because they trust the organization.
I have been very concerned about htis very issue and you embody the compassion I feel towards this situation. Thank you, and MUAH!
I went to Kenya last summer and it literally changed my life. Thanks for caring so much for these little children; you are making such a huge difference in their lives!
Stand up; Stand Strong; Make a Difference!
Bekka Joy
This is ridiculous. All you have done is delay the men and women of Africa from actually haveing a fututre. By that I mean they have to chose to become a real country if they don't want it we can't make it happen for them. And all the money we throw at the problem is just going to make it easier for more people to sit on their asses and do nothing for themselves.
I Am BuDdY
If you knew anything about anything you'd be surprised. The reason that people don't donate is because they believe what you believe, which is sometimes true--but in corrupt governments, a lot of them in Africa, they seize the aid and use it for other things, to further the cause. That doesn't mean we can't help.
"for more people to sit on their asses and do nothing for themselves"
You tell that to the victims under a totalitarian government, the men, women and children that somehow can't find the power to overthrow a government. I'm assuming you're American, an apathetic American that has no idea how to do what you're claiming they should do.