North American young people have been empowered to raise money in their own unique way to support their counterparts in Africa, thanks to a unique nonprofit based from Chicago.
Kids Caring 4 Kids (KC4K) is betting on the power and compassion of youth to make a difference in the lives of some of the 12 million AIDS orphaned children in Africa. The charity has developed the “i care 2” kit to encourage kids and young people to take action and get involved.
Five years ago, an 11-year-old named Kendall Ciesemier of suburban Chicago saw an “Oprah Special” where orphaned young girls her own age were scratching out an existence—caring for younger brothers and sisters following the deaths of their parents to AIDS. She was so deeply moved by their plight that she took all of her money to sponsor one child for a year. Knowing that other kids would also be moved, Ciesemier created Kids Caring 4 Kids, an organization dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging support from young people.
Ciesemier knows what it’s like to overcome challenging circumstances. Born with a rare liver disease, she has undergone two liver transplants, and set the charity in motion while under treatment. “Watching Oprah, I saw children walking miles to go to school and get fresh water, and cooking and caring for their young siblings. I had loving parents to care for me, but these kids in Africa who lost their parents have no one,” said Ciesemier. “I wanted to make a difference in one kid’s life. But I knew I could change so many more lives with a little help.”
Today her goal is to inspire kids to join a cause bigger than themselves because, “It doesn’t take a lot to make a difference.” That message is the centerpiece of the “i care 2” campaign that provides North American kids with resources to get involved and raise money in their own way, in their own community.
The “i care 2” Kit
To encourage young people across North America to take action to bring hope and care to children in Africa, Kids Caring 4 Kids created the “i care 2” kit with everything groups and individual kids need to host their own fundraiser, including:
• DVD with Ciesemier’s inspiring story and that of AIDS orphaned children in Africa, plus how and why kids can make a difference
• Ready…Set…Go! – a step-by-step guide to creating and implementing a fundraiser or service project
• CD-Rom with ideas for fund raisers, publicity and promotion, teacher enrichment activities, posters and flyers that can be printed and distributed, and more
• KC4K T-shirt and poster to announce events
“The real idea behind the ‘i care 2’ kit is to empower and encourage kids and young people to care and take action,” said Ciesemier. “We want to make it as easy as possible for them to be successful in their efforts to make a difference for children in Africa. The kit, she says, is an ideal resource for students, teachers, PTAs, and youth groups.
Each kit is sent out by request through KidsCaring4Kids.org at no cost. (The only request is that if a person doesn’t use the kit that they pass it to someone who will or consider a suggested donation to KC4K to help cover the cost.)
Funds raised by Kids Caring 4 Kids support organizations such as:
• World Bicycle Relief: KC4K has donated funds to provide children who live far from school with bikes to enable them to get to school quickly and safely, and to help their families make a living.
• World Vision: KC4K funds the drilling of water wells and boreholes in Zambian communities. Clean water helps keep them alive.
• Touch a Life Foundation: KC4K is partnering with Touch A Life to care for child slaves rescued in Ghana—providing them with daily needs of food, shelter, education, and health care.
• Kerus Global Education: KC4K funds helped build and outfit the new Kerus Orphan Care Center in South Africa that will eventually serve 100 children daily.
• Bright Hope International: In Zambia, KC4K built a dorm to house orphan girls and provided weekly nutritional meals and food supplements to 600+ orphans, widows and AIDS patients.
• Hope for Life Center (Kenya): KC4K contributed to build a community center in Nakuru, Kenya, a region swelling with AIDS orphans, and has provided regular feeding programs.
The Story of Kids Caring 4 Kids
Founded in 2004 by then 11-year-old Kendall Ciesemier, Kids Caring 4 Kids is a registered 501(c)3 organization. The charity caught the attention of national media and Ciesemier landed on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 2007, accompanied by President Bill Clinton. She was also named One of America’s Top Ten Youth Volunteers by the Prudential Foundation in 2007. Her initial goal to raise one million dollars to support for AIDS orphans has inspired several thousand students and adults to raise funds through penny wars, service projects, basketball tournaments, karaoke contests, bake sales, donations and other creative activities. Kids Caring 4 Kids has already raised more than $750,000 to help fund programs serving children impacted by the AIDS epidemic in Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia. Monies have helped to build orphan care centers, drill boreholes for clean water, fund daily feeding programs, provide bikes and school uniforms, shelter rescued children, and more.
More information:
http://www.kidscaring4kids.org/
http://blog.kidscaring4kids.org/
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-kids-caring-w-zone-2dec02,0,3853068.story
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Add a Comment5 Comments
Thanks for this inspiring share, Pat. I think it's amazing and agree with Diane. Kids can relate with each other and are willing to help each other out.
Also thank you Laura for the link to kids caring for kids link.
January 19, 2010 - 5:17amThis Comment
Dear Pat,
January 18, 2010 - 11:48pmWhat a wonderful story on the amazing Kendall and her charity 'Kids Caring 4 Kids'. The 'i care 2' kits are great and I am looking forward to using them with my students (Grade 3) this year ( I am a Primary School teacher in Melbourne, Australia). I first heard of Kendall, when I watched Orpah in my living room in Oz.
Did you know Kids Caring 4 Kids has a facebook cause page as well http://www.causes.com/kidscaring4kids which features lots of information, videos, links etc.
Have a lovely day and once again..... Well Done on a wonderful story.
Kind regards, Laura (Melbourne, Australia)
This Comment
Pat, thanks so much for helping us get the word out about Kendall and her amazing organization. It really only takes one person to make a difference and we know that parents and their kids can use this opportunity to learn more about their world and giving back.
December 7, 2009 - 10:16amThis Comment
What an inspiring story, Pat. I have several nieces and nephews and I know this is exactly the kind of thing that appeals to them. "Charity" is a big non-specific term to them, but being able to help one kid in another country is something they identify with. Thank you very much.
December 7, 2009 - 9:20amThis Comment
Hi Pat,
Thanks for this share. It is always great to try and give during the holiday season and this would be a great way.
December 6, 2009 - 10:08amThis Comment