Kenya Carnival Shows the Power of Kids Helping Kids
Adapted from an article by Lizzie Booher, age 16
What can Indianapolis youth do to help students in rural areas halfway around the world? Organize a carnival, of course!
The "Ken-Ya Help Us?" Project is a youth-led organization that raises money to send high school students to school in rural areas in Kenya. The group organizes the annual Kenya Carnival to support Global Interfaith Partnership's "Umoja Project," which addresses the needs of orphans and vulnerable children in Chulaimbo, Kenya.
The Kenya Carnival took place at Second Presbyterian Church on September 5, 2009. Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard attended the event and spent time with the student volunteers learning about their interest in helping the young people of Africa. In addition to more than 30 games and activities, the carnival featured music by student bands, Kenyan drummers, and authentic Kenyan food, as well as lots of "fair food."
The money raised by Kenya Carnival provides the Kenyan students with one year of tuition, school supplies, uniforms and other basic needs. For example, it only takes five dollars to give a year supply of lamp kerosene that allows students to study in the evening.
In 2008, its first year, the carnival raised $8,000 to send 25 kids to school. For 2009, the goal was $16,000 for 50 students, and a tremendous $21,212.12 was the end result!
The "Ken-Ya Help Us?" Project empowers kids to be involved and be leaders. Middle and high school students worked hard to earn money to sponsor games at the carnival. One group of middle school girls, known as the "Bungee Bouncers," raised more than $3,200 by babysitting, having a garage sale and doing odd jobs.
In addition to raising money, the Kenya Carnival raises awareness of the needs of youth in Kenya. In the new Education of the Cause booth, students told carnival guests about Chulaimbo, Kenya and the differences between their daily life and the lives of the Kenyan students sponsored by the project. Students in this area of Kenya truly value education as the way out of poverty. Many of them are orphans, who are in charge of their siblings and are heads of the household. Often, the only food they get is the meal provided at school.
In addition to the involvement of Second Presbyterian, other Kenya Carnival sponsors included Congregation Beth-El Zedeck, Congregation Shaarey Tefilla, North United Methodist Church, St. Luke's United Methodist Church, St. Monica Catholic Church, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and more than 25 families and individuals. This fantastic group of young adults is looking for leaders to help make next year's event an even bigger success. Please send a message to kenyacarnival@aol.com if you are interested in being on the leadership team, as an adult mentor or kid chair, or on the planning committee.
______________________________________________________________________________