KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A brother and sister team from Kalamazoo are doing great things for impoverished and struggling children in Africa.
They've formed a group helping to inspire, educate, and empower those children, and on Thursday night, they're kicking off a major effort.
At the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the non-profit 4OneWorld is about to launch an effort to help build a school in a remote village of Uganda.
The global effort started simply, when a Kalamazoo woman went to Africa and got lost.
In Africa, dozens of children are, for the first time, learning how to type, how to use a computer, and how to learn more about themselves and their world, and it's all because of two people. A brother and sister from Kalamazoo.
Their inspiration was found in Kampala, Uganda.
"I was in the capital city by myself and I had kinda lost my way," said Tara McKinney, director and founder of 4OneWorld. "I heard this little voice ask me what I was looking for."
That voice belonged to a 12-year-old orphan named Norman.
"He touched me so much because he was brave," said McKinney.
The orphan helped McKinney find her way, and in return asked her to return the favor.
"He could have asked for anything," said Adam Stubbs, president of 4OneWorld. "He could've asked for money, could've asked for food. Instead, he asked for education."
That walk along the streets of Kampala led to McKinney paying Norman's tuition at St. Kizito, a school for displaced children, former child soldiers, AIDS orphans, and the poor.
"Then over time, I though, what more can I do to help?" said McKinney.
"She came to me and said, 'can we do this?'" said Stubbs, "and through her diligent efforts and my assistance, we created 4OneWorld."
Together with area volunteers, they raised enough money to build a lab with 42 computers, a trained teacher, and eventually Internet access, bringing the kids a world they'd never known.
"With that success, we had a what now moment," said Stubbs. "We knew that we wanted to get closer to the Ugandan people. We had been touched so much by their amazing gratitude and appreciation. We knew we could help more, and there is much to do."
There is a lot to be done in the village of Chiboba, a remote community of people that is not only struggling to survive, but also eager to thrive, and home to another school desperate for someone to care.
"Some of the students, when they come and receive the school meal during lunchtime, that's their only mean of the day sometimes," said Stubbs.
"There would be the kindergarten class in one area, then the first graders, the second graders, no desks and chairs, so the students would sit on the floor," said McKinney. "There's on textbook per grade, there are hardly any paper, pens, pencils, learning tools."
With a team of partners, and a passionate need to help the world, two people from Kalamazoo are reaching out and making a big difference.
"It's kind of selfish in a way because we give, but we receive so much back," said McKinney. "It makes me realize, I have nothing to complain about ever."
You can find more information on 4OneWorld at their website www.4oneworld.org.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A brother and sister team from Kalamazoo are doing great things for impoverished and struggling children in Africa.
They've formed a group helping to inspire, educate, and empower those children, and on Thursday night, they're kicking off a major effort.
At the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the non-profit 4OneWorld is about to launch an effort to help build a school in a remote village of Uganda.
The global effort started simply, when a Kalamazoo woman went to Africa and got lost.
In Africa, dozens of children are, for the first time, learning how to type, how to use a computer, and how to learn more about themselves and their world, and it's all because of two people. A brother and sister from Kalamazoo.
Their inspiration was found in Kampala, Uganda.
"I was in the capital city by myself and I had kinda lost my way," said Tara McKinney, director and founder of 4OneWorld. "I heard this little voice ask me what I was looking for."
That voice belonged to a 12-year-old orphan named Norman.
"He touched me so much because he was brave," said McKinney.
The orphan helped McKinney find her way, and in return asked her to return the favor.
"He could have asked for anything," said Adam Stubbs, president of 4OneWorld. "He could've asked for money, could've asked for food. Instead, he asked for education."
That walk along the streets of Kampala led to McKinney paying Norman's tuition at St. Kizito, a school for displaced children, former child soldiers, AIDS orphans, and the poor.
"Then over time, I though, what more can I do to help?" said McKinney.
"She came to me and said, 'can we do this?'" said Stubbs, "and through her diligent efforts and my assistance, we created 4OneWorld."
Together with area volunteers, they raised enough money to build a lab with 42 computers, a trained teacher, and eventually Internet access, bringing the kids a world they'd never known.
"With that success, we had a what now moment," said Stubbs. "We knew that we wanted to get closer to the Ugandan people. We had been touched so much by their amazing gratitude and appreciation. We knew we could help more, and there is much to do."
There is a lot to be done in the village of Chiboba, a remote community of people that is not only struggling to survive, but also eager to thrive, and home to another school desperate for someone to care.
"Some of the students, when they come and receive the school meal during lunchtime, that's their only mean of the day sometimes," said Stubbs.
"There would be the kindergarten class in one area, then the first graders, the second graders, no desks and chairs, so the students would sit on the floor," said McKinney. "There's on textbook per grade, there are hardly any paper, pens, pencils, learning tools."
With a team of partners, and a passionate need to help the world, two people from Kalamazoo are reaching out and making a big difference.
"It's kind of selfish in a way because we give, but we receive so much back," said McKinney. "It makes me realize, I have nothing to complain about ever."
You can find more information on 4OneWorld at their website www.4oneworld.org.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – A brother and sister team from Kalamazoo are doing great things for impoverished and struggling children in Africa.
They've formed a group helping to inspire, educate, and empower those children, and on Thursday night, they're kicking off a major effort.
At the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, the non-profit 4OneWorld is about to launch an effort to help build a school in a remote village of Uganda.
The global effort started simply, when a Kalamazoo woman went to Africa and got lost.
In Africa, dozens of children are, for the first time, learning how to type, how to use a computer, and how to learn more about themselves and their world, and it's all because of two people. A brother and sister from Kalamazoo.
Their inspiration was found in Kampala, Uganda.
"I was in the capital city by myself and I had kinda lost my way," said Tara McKinney, director and founder of 4OneWorld. "I heard this little voice ask me what I was looking for."
That voice belonged to a 12-year-old orphan named Norman.
"He touched me so much because he was brave," said McKinney.
The orphan helped McKinney find her way, and in return asked her to return the favor.
"He could have asked for anything," said Adam Stubbs, president of 4OneWorld. "He could've asked for money, could've asked for food. Instead, he asked for education."
That walk along the streets of Kampala led to McKinney paying Norman's tuition at St. Kizito, a school for displaced children, former child soldiers, AIDS orphans, and the poor.
"Then over time, I though, what more can I do to help?" said McKinney.
"She came to me and said, 'can we do this?'" said Stubbs, "and through her diligent efforts and my assistance, we created 4OneWorld."
Together with area volunteers, they raised enough money to build a lab with 42 computers, a trained teacher, and eventually Internet access, bringing the kids a world they'd never known.
"With that success, we had a what now moment," said Stubbs. "We knew that we wanted to get closer to the Ugandan people. We had been touched so much by their amazing gratitude and appreciation. We knew we could help more, and there is much to do."
There is a lot to be done in the village of Chiboba, a remote community of people that is not only struggling to survive, but also eager to thrive, and home to another school desperate for someone to care.
"Some of the students, when they come and receive the school meal during lunchtime, that's their only mean of the day sometimes," said Stubbs.
"There would be the kindergarten class in one area, then the first graders, the second graders, no desks and chairs, so the students would sit on the floor," said McKinney. "There's on textbook per grade, there are hardly any paper, pens, pencils, learning tools."
With a team of partners, and a passionate need to help the world, two people from Kalamazoo are reaching out and making a big difference.
"It's kind of selfish in a way because we give, but we receive so much back," said McKinney. "It makes me realize, I have nothing to complain about ever."
You can find more information on 4OneWorld at their website www.4oneworld.org.