I am writing in support of a Genesee based nonprofit organization, AfricAid, Inc. AfricAid's mission is to support educational opportunities for girls in Africa. It empowers and advances African women through education so that they can transform their own futures and the futures of their communities and nations. Although AfricAid prioritizes African educational initiatives, its secondary mission--to work with children in the United States--is equally paramount. AfricAid believes that early student involvement in volunteer and leadership programs helps create a committed group of empathetic, philanthropically minded future leaders; thus, AfricAid supports and mentors American youth in the skills of leadership and teamwork through acts of volunteerism, applied empathy, and global philanthropy.

Since 2001, AfricAid has raised almost $500,000 in cash contributions and school supplies for primary, secondary, and tertiary girls' educational programs, primarily in Tanzania. It has funded over 200 one-year secondary school scholarships, over $70,000 worth of school materials, computers, and classroom equipment, and $35,000 for classroom construction.

Some of AfricAid's greatest successes have resulted from the work of its youth volunteers who are members of AfricAid clubs based in schools, churches, and other youth organizations throughout Colorado, the United States, and Canada. Presently there are ten very active clubs including local groups at Mullen and Fairview high schools and Colorado Academy. These clubs are an integral part of AfricAid's work, as members not only raise funds and collect school supplies for the organization, but also raise awareness in their communities about the challenges facing girls in Tanzania. Aside from collecting over $32,000 worth of school supplies, these groups have raised $60,000 in cash through innovative events such as "Mom's night out" babysitting nights, hop-a-thons, benefit concerts, and birthday parties where children bring cash contributions and/or school supplies in lieu of presents.

To expand its impact on local students, in 2005 AfricAid created the AfricAid Kids Team (AKT), a group of Evergreen based middle school students who raise awareness and money for African education by making and selling their own beaded jewelry in addition to selling Maasai jewelry from Tanzania. To raise funds, the AKT holds an annual fall fundraiser in Evergreen and attends various local seasonal fairs. All their proceeds benefit the school lunch program at Losinoni Primary School in Losinoni, Tanzania, a small, rural school with 555 students and only five classrooms. In 2006, the AKT brought in over $1,700, far surpassing its previous fundraising efforts and financing a significantly greater number of school lunches. Without these funds, a large percentage of the students would be unable to afford lunch.

Recently, the AKT devised and implemented a new project that I believe deserves a YourHub.com grant because it is strengthening our community by empowering local students to act on behalf of the less fortunate and by setting an example for others to take action to improve the world. Members of AKT have designed a silver charm bracelet for sale at their annual events but also at several Evergreen businesses. The unique bracelets showcase a silver charm bearing the words "Uhuru and AfricAid," fit most wrists, and are available in seven colors and leather. Each color symbolizes its own African significance, e.g. green for Tanzania's ecosystem and red for East Africa's Maasai warrior. The AKT chose the name "Uhuru" because in Swahili it signifies freedom and liberty, words that complement AfricAid's goal of empowering African women through education.

Although the Uhuru bracelet project benefits students in Tanzania, the AKT members benefit equally: they understand and value the impact of their work in terms of increasing their own merit as global philanthropists and of inspiring other American students to act on behalf of those who are less fortunate than they are. Being involved with the AKT truly changes one's view of the world; one of its founding members wrote, "AfricAid showed me how fortunate I am to have a loving and caring family, food, clean water, also how lucky I am to receive a wonderful education. AfricAid has changed the way I look at the world...AfricAid has shown me that I can make a difference. Even the littlest thing can make a big impact in others' lives." Such sentiments reveal why AfricAid's work in the local community with its youth is so important. AfricAid is changing lives in Africa, but also here in Colorado.

A grant from YourHub.com will help fund the AKT bracelet project, allowing the AKT to increase its production of bracelets, expand to additional local merchants, and raise awareness about girls' education in Africa and about the benefits of volunteering. Support from YourHub.com would better the Colorado community because it would help develop a committed, empathetic generation of future leaders, individuals who are already positively changing our community and the world.