Cool Kids

150 Pairs of Shoes!By Robyn Zeidler

Last summer, I thought of a simple way to help people in Ziwa, Kenya.

It occurred after a conversation that I had with my grandparents about the country. I think that we were discussing how we take some things for granted here, such as shoes, which are greatly needed in Ziwa. My grandparents mentioned kids with toes hanging out the ends of their shoes and many kids without any shoes even.

I later got an idea of how I could help. I am a track and cross country runner for Wayzata High School, and I know that both myself and my teammates go through many pairs of shoes each year. As I dwelled on this fact, I thought that it would be so cool if I could somehow collect shoes for kids in Kenya, so I gave it a go!

I organized a shoe drive with my 100 plus girls’ team. By getting the word out to both them and my other friends and family, I was able to collect over 150 pairs of shoes and there are still more on the way because I am hoping to keep this as an ongoing project. The shoes are going to be shipped to both Mama Ada and to Ziwa Secondary School for distribution.

It is exciting to watch it all come together!

Last March, Nate Cook and a group of students and friends from Eckerd College wanted to find a way to make a difference in someone’s life around the world (in their Corporate Social Responsibility course) – working with The Mama Ada Foundation in Ziwa, Kenya. These young people hosted Eckerd’s First Annual Harambee Dinner and raised enough money to buy a cow for a Kenyan woman, Gladys Bett, who wrote the following:

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: LETTER OF APPRECIATION

I wish to pass my sincere thanks for the gift which you gave me through Mama Ada. This is the dairy cow which has now calved and my children are enjoying. Thank you very much indeed.

May God bless you all.

Yours faithfully,

Gladys Bett

These students worked under the leadership of Professor Lora Reed, who teaches in the management department at Eckerd College. Through her guidance and their enthusiasm, they have been working on Mustard Seed project s – creating ways for young people to contribute small amounts of money that make a big impact around the world; teaching students that doing well and doing good can be done at the same time in management.

And, it is fitting that their fundraiser again this year is called a harambee dinner. In Kenya, people come together to help meet the needs of those less fortunate in their communities, calling the gatherings harambees; at these gatherings, people contribute whatever they can, such as a chicken or some corn or a small amount of money. Yet now, their needs in Kenya are so desperate that they have reached around the world to us for help.

Asante sana to Nate and Professor Reed and all the other students from Eckerd College! Their upcoming Second Annual Harambee Dinner will raise funds for a computer lab at Ziwa Secondary School – so we wish them the best of luck!

Community service runs in the family in Minnetonka

BY Marc Ingber - Sun Newspapers

Published: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 10:53 PM CST

Eleven-year-old Evan Keller didn't have to look far for inspiration in putting together a community service project next month.

His mother, Julie, has been involved for years with The Mama Ada Foundation, a faith-based initiative whose goal is address poverty in Kenya by providing tuition for young people and seeds for poor farmers.

Ever since his mother became involved with the organization, Evan wanted to find a way to help. This fall he came up with an idea - a book sale to raise proceeds for the foundation, as well as the Intercongregation Communities Association food shelf in Minnetonka.

"He's been interested in doing something for other people with needs," Julie said. "He came up with the idea and I thought, 'why not now?'"

Evan and his younger brother, Ben, 8, along with friends from St. David's Episcopal Church in Minnetonka and classmates from The International School in Eden Prairie are organizing the book sale.

It will be held Saturday, Jan. 15, at St. David's Church. Evan, who lives in Minnetonka, said he doesn't expect the sale to raise a huge amount of money, but hopes it will lead to more events.

"It's symbolic - hopefully the church will start more of this type of stuff and eventually it will get bigger," he said.

Julie said her sons and their friends were taking the initiative to organize the event. The experience of putting on a book sale will show them that not every initiative has to be huge, she added.

"It's a great, simple idea," she said. "Kids have to learn there are practical ways to help out - they don't have to be complicated. People can contribute where they can."

Evan said he hoped this would be the first of many projects for him - he added that he recently set up a pen pal in Kenya to communicate with. "I want to be involved with The Mama Ada Foundation in the future," he said.

The book sale - a fundraiser for The Mama Ada Foundation and Intercongregation Communities Association food shelf - will be held noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at St. David's Episcopal Church, 13000 St. David Road in Minnetonka.

For more information on the organizations, visit mamaadafoundation.org or icafoodshelf.org.

Evan Keller, 11, of Minnetonka is organizing a book sale that will benefit The Mama Ada Foundation and Intercongregation Communities Association food shelf. He is a student at The International School in Eden Prairie.

Easy Fundraising Ideas!