By Alex-Quan Pham
“All kids need education and food.”
This was the simple statement that drove Sydney Benjamin (‘14) to create Care 4 Swaziland, an organization that raises money for the Puzamoya Baptist School in Swaziland, Africa.
The organization raised about 1,200 dollars over the course of two months by selling shirts designed by Benjamin herself. Her immediate goal is to raise 6,000 dollars to pay for the Puzamoya Baptist School to be open for another year. This amount would pay for general upkeep, education, and food. For most children, the school serves as the only source of education, and often the only source of food.
Her long-term goal is to establish Care 4 Swaziland as a school club to ensure that the organization’s mission will carry on once she graduates next year.
Benjamin’s philanthropic efforts are distinguished by the fact that she single-handedly undertook this project, with no club advisor or board behind her. The 1,200 dollars that have been raised thus far are due to Benjamin’s own ingenuity and initiative.
She accredits her inspiration for the project to her church. “My church has taught me a lot with giving, and giving with an open heart.”
Last winter, her church organized for 10,000 meals to be packaged and sent to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
She hopes to inspire people to start their own organizations just as her church has inspired her. “I want people to know that they can start their own program. Anyone can do it.”
Tomorrow, Benjamin will be having a fundraiser bake sale, where shirts will also be sold. You can find more information at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/281647311971069/?ref=ts&fref=ts
