Trio reach out to Invisible Children
Lakeside High School sophomores Natalie Holbert, Katheryn Hyer and Amanda Ramshaw have some very big ideas, and they reach all the way to Africa. The girls’ mission is to raise awareness of the plight of children in the war-torn continent by raising money for the organization The Invisible Children.
The Invisible Children is dedicated to improving the quality of life for African children, particularly in Uganda. It strives to provide access to education for orphans and child-soldiers. The girls knew they wanted to do something to help when they learned through media about the trauma and sufferings of Ugandan children. Through Holbert’s father, they learned about The Invisible Children.
Last fall they did a survey in the high school to determine how aware their fellow students were of African children’s plight. The survey consisted of facts and tidbits of news from Africa, mixed in with lots of trivia on pop culture. To the girls’ dismay, only three survey takers answered 100 percent correctly on the questions on Africa.
“It shows that we are more informed on popular culture than the real issues!” said Holbert, 15. “It is ridiculous.”
The girls next started showing video clips at school made by The Invisible Children. In December they launched a two-week sale of Krispy Kreme’s doughnuts, which netted $400 for the organization. Other fundraisers, such as silent auction and raffle ticket sales at basketball games, also have helped.
The girls are planning another big fundraiser, either another doughnut sale or a Guitar Hero Tournament, where participants pay a $5 entry fee to compete. So far they’ve raised $700.
On March 6 the group took its project to the regional competition of FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America). From there, it went to the state competition and took home a gold. But the competition is not really the goal for these future leaders. For them the goal is the mission itself – improving the welfare of their peers in Africa. When asked why they were doing this, all three said that community serviceis a part of their growing up. They are interested in giving back to their community they are in. And, with the advances of technology, community could mean not just the neighborhood, but the world.
“Americans have so much. And a lot of us take it for granted,” Ramshaw said. “We have a perfect life compared to those children in Africa. Why not share?”
The three friends admitted this experience has brought them a lot closer. They all share the belief that everyone can do his part to make the world a better place through large or small efforts.