YouthInkwell's Youth Leadership Board

Vital Stats

Matthew D

Pasadena, CA

  • people helped300
  • People Doing It100

The Problem

Everyday in Ethiopia, young girls walk for water. The journey is long and tiring, and once the girls arrive at the water source (most often just a shallow river or puddle), they fill their jugs or jerry cans with disease-infested, muddy water. This is the only water they have access to, so they need to take this water back to their families just to stay alive. These walks are a 365 days a year job and prevent the girls from going to school. The girls take these trips alone and unprotected from predators.

Plan of Action

After hearing about the kids at YouthInkwell who were publishing their own books to help bring water to Ethiopian villages, I was inspired to get active. I joined the Youth Leadership Board and eventually was elected its President. As a President with a serious commitment and passion for YouthInkwell, I transformed the Youth Board from a social club to a functional, core group of young activists from the local community and shaped a strong, confident Youth Board full of leaders. As a member of the Youth Board for the past 3 years, I have taken on the commitment to raise $1,200 every year as well as attending (and as the President, running) bi-monthly Board meetings. With the help of our director and the adult board, I am learning how to run a nonprofit organization, and I help pass down what I learn to the other board members. I also regularly attend fundraisers and events where I have used my marketing and public speaking skills to recruit volunteers, raise awareness, and build business relationships.
Go
Education
Environment
Human Rights
Homelessness and Poverty

Related Stuff