Eleven-Year-Old Touches ONE HUNDRED Girls in Africa

When I received an email recently from a young single mom of three girls, I was stunned on several counts. One reason was this mom had just received her income tax refund and had given each of her girls $100 to give away in whatever way she chose. Shocking, right? I’ve been a single mom and there are TONS of ways $300 could have been spent other than giving it away!! Then, secondly, the reason for the email was that one of her daughters wanted to give her money to the kids at Liberty School.

Whohooo!!!! How fun to have $100 not already earmarked for much needed supplies at the school. With so many areas of need not able to be met, it was hard to choose how to use these precious dollars. Then I thought about what life might be like for this little American girl if all of a sudden she were dropped into the same circumstances as an 11 year old girl in Bikeke Village. Her classmates would be girls who didn’t own or much less had ever seen an iPad. They didn’t have a tv or a book or crayons, their own bed, or a rug on their dirt covered floor. They might own a worn out uniform and for weekends a threadbare t-shirt and skirt. The relative they live with can’t buy shoes or pay fees for her to go to school. And, undoubtedly, without Liberty School, she would typically be staying at home caring for her younger siblings while her guardian or single parent goes out seeking day work in the fields to be able to buy enough for at least one meal for themselves and their children that day. These girls have seen and experienced more abuse, loss, hunger and sickness than most of us will in our lifetimes.

However, in spite of such hardship, these little girls are excited to go to school every day and be in a place where they are cared for, taught, and fed. Even though whoever they are living with—a relative, a single parent, a guardian—barely has enough money for food or rent, they are being given a chance for a better life. They smile, they laugh and they are full of gratitude. Nevertheless, MANY times, when I ask about the circumstances about a child at the school, the answer usually includes, “The child’s basic needs are not being met.” What does this mean? Basic needs! Clothing, shelter, and food!!!

So, while, I might LOVE to suggest using this $100 to give the girls a doll or a pretty dress, I think, “What on a very basic level is something they need and will at the same time put a smile on their faces?” Underwear! Why? Because under those dirty, worn out uniforms there is nothing. A teacher told me, “Sometimes when we are discussing some things (hygiene), a child is so ashamed because she is not wearing any underwear.” So, underwear it is! Thank you, sweet American girl, for giving to meet not only a need, but to also bring some dignity and sense of well being to 100 little girls!

So, one hundred girls, one hundred pairs of underwear!! When I told the students about the American girl and how she wanted to give them something, they couldn’t believe it. I showed them her photo and they knew she was real. When I placed a brand new, not even from a second hand store, pair of panties in their hands, they were in awe. Undoubtedly the very first pair of brand new underwear they had ever owned!!! Each one curtsied and stuck out both hands to receive her pair. In unison, they shouted out, “Asante sana!” Just check out their delight!