Student to help needy Africans in trip of a lifetime

FRIDAY, DEC. 30: During the festive season we often spare a thought to the millions of people in the world much worse off than ourselves.

But for 13-year-old Bermudian Diarra Franks watching the news stories and reading the newspapers wasn’t enough. She plans to travel to Kenya to live with an African community as part of a trip being organized through her high school —Albert College in Canada.

The college works with action group Me to We which is the social enterprise partner of the charity Free The Children — a vast network of children helping children through education.

Miss Franks will learn all about poverty-related issues during her two-week trip which takes place throughout March break.

When she gets to Kenya she and her fellow students will be teaching African children to speak English and also getting involved in community projects such as helping to build a school.

Miss Franks, who has not travelled further than Canada before, told the Bermuda Sun: “This is not about me wanting to go and have a good time, it’s about me wanting to go and help these people, live like they live and know what they go through on a daily basis.

“I always hear about it and wish I could do something about it — people living in poverty, child slaves and child soldiers and things like that.

Make a difference

“You never think that you can actually go and personally make a difference. You read about it every day but you never really experience it. It’s great that young people can help to make a difference.

“I might be able to help one or two kids at least but I feel like this trip is the start of something bigger and hopefully I can go on the trip next year and every year until I graduate.

“I want to get more into this field, learn more about service trips and how to help.”

As part of the programme Miss Franks will receive 20 hours of community service, four hours of Swahili language instruction and 20 hours of
leadership training.

The programme aims to equip young people with the skills to get involved with community volunteer initiatives, engage in social issues both on a local and international level, while developing leadership, communication and team-building skills.

Along with about 15 other students from her college, she has been hard at work raising money to fund the trip which costs $4,600 all included,  as well as raising money for school supplies to give to the children she visits.

“I’ve been raising money to get school supplies over there. We are going to be bringing them note books, text books, pencils anything that will help them in school.

“I’ve done a bake sale and helped out with a casino night we had in school.

“I will be doing more fundraising — more bake sales and I am organizing a fun day for the high school.”

Miss Franks is back in Bermuda for the holiday break and hopes to attract donations and sponsorship to help her cause.

She is sending out sponsorship proposals to the business community and there are pledge sheets available from More For Less at 12 Old Military Road, St George’s and at Armadillo Management at Stirling House in on 16 Wesley Street, Hamilton.

For more information or to donate funds directly to the charity visit www.metowe.com or to donate funds or sponsor locally email [email protected] or call 707-1022.