Chicago area students send books to Ethiopia
By Steve Metsch
Bake sales, movie nights and yarn bracelets may not sound like much. But if you put them together, they can add up. They added up to $1,200 at Stagg High School during the 2008-09 school year.
After school on Wednesday, some Stagg students learned how their donations helped kids in Ethiopia.
The students were visited by Ephrem Berhanu, managing director of Talent Youth Association, a charitable organization in Ethiopia that distributed the funds to three charitable organizations – Invisible Children, The Blood Water Mission and the Chilanchil Youth Association.
The money raised bought school supplies for 200 elementary school children, Berhanu said.
Berhanu, who was in Washington, D.C., for a conference, was urged to come to the Palos Hills high school by senior Ziba Sidrys, whose family ties brought the school in contact with his organization.
Sidrys' uncle, aunt and five cousins recently returned from a year in Ethiopia where they worked helping the needy. When Sidrys, 17, of Palos Hills, learned what they were up to in Africa, she thought it a worthy cause and drummed up support among her fellow Stagg students.
"All of my siblings are into social action. One of my sisters works for the U.N., so I got it from them," she said.
About 60 students in Choices in Popular Literature classes orchestrated the fundraising with help from the Stagg Social Action Club, she said.
After hearing from Berhanu on Wednesday about the continued need in Africa, two juniors new to the club said they planned to make donations.
"It was touching. It motivates to be involved," Jenn DiGiacomo, 16, of Orland Park, said.
Tina Migler, 16, of Palos Park, called Berhanu's presentation "very inspiring."
That's what it's all about, said Sidrys, who thinks Stagg students can top last year's fundraising figure during this school year. Having firsthand knowledge helps, she said.
"This is the first time any of the students saw how (their money) helped. When you go to Web sites, you're not sure what you're getting into or how you are helping," Sidrys said.
Stagg English teacher Chris Wendelin was impressed by the students' generosity.
"You have a certain concept of high school students. Say the movie night (at school) would cost $2 to get in. Kids would give you a $5 bill. You'd give them the change, and they'd say 'Keep it.' Or they'd throw money into a can after the movie, and you're taken aback by their generosity," Wendelin said.
Sidrys' uncle, Tadas Kulbis, spoke to the students about how his family learned to survive in Ethiopia on much less than they do in America. And about how it's important for students to continue trying to help others.
Berhanu, 29, did not mind making a detour halfway across the country to meet with the students at Stagg.
"It was very surprising," Berhanu said of their donation, telling the students that "you are doing a very good thing."