May Newsletter

No Presents, Please Bring Money for Children's Future

This month we are happy to celebrate two of our youngest Children's Future donors. While many teenagers can't wait for their birthdays so they can open presents full of the latest fashion trends and electronic gadgets, these two young women used their birthdays as a way to fundraise for Children's Future.

Naomi is an 8th grader from Platte Middle School in Boulder, Colorado. Last year, Naomi heard a presentation about Children's Future from Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andrew Wolff. Naomi was moved by what she heard and decided she wanted to do something to help. In lieu of birthday presents, Naomi asked her party guests to bring donations for Children's Future. Reflecting back on the decision Naomi states, "It gives purpose to your life as a teenager because you know that are you are making a difference. Helping out as a teenager can really inspire you to do more later. You can inspire yourself."

Izzy is a 7th grader who also attends Platte Middle School. After learning about Children's Future, Izzy knew she could do something to help. For her 13th birthday Izzy had a party and invited friends saying, "No presents, please bring money for Children's Future." In a thoughtful statement, Izzy describes her desire to help, "I'm a really lucky person. I have a house, I have a lot of resources, I have a lot of things that a lot of girls don't have in other countries. As I've gotten older my parents have been very good about educating me about these things. I can help people that aren't as lucky as me."

We commend Naomi and Izzy for their wisdom, passion and selflessness. Giving is a contagious act and we know that these young ladies will continue to inspire others with their actions. The donations they raised will go to supporting the 230 students that attend the Learning Center. It will provide uniforms, bicycles, books, electricity for computers, teacher salaries, and much more. We hope this will inspire more young people to help their fellow youth around the world.

Naomi says, "I won't pass up an opportunity to help others out."

Izzy states, "It is my responsibility to help others and it should be everyone's responsibility."

Student Profile - Thary

Thary, a 10 year old student who loves to read.

When we met Thary in 2010, she was living in dire poverty with her mother and her one-year-old brother. Her father had recently passed away and there were no relatives willing to support her. To feed herself and her children, Thary's mother was forced to travel in search of work, which was extremely difficult with a toddler and a young daughter. Fortunately, someone in her village informed Children's Future of her situation and we were able to start supporting her.

Thary is now ten years old and a proud third-grade student. She studies both in public school and at Children's Future, where she loves to spend time in the library or playing in the garden with her friends. Thary is a very good student and is always happy to come to school. She is incredibly cute and can rarely be seen without a smile on her face. Her family's situation has stabilized and improved significantly since she became involved with Children's Future. Thary's mother continues to tell us that the support from Children's Future means the world to her. She is now able to live at home with both of her children, do whatever work she can from there and she no longer has to worry about her children going hungry.

*Name changed for privacy.

Thank you to our student sponsors who make Thary's education possible!

STAY CONNECTED