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To Africa With Open Arms
By Leanna Summers
Emily Blake sees opportunities where others see
obstacles. At 12, she was inspired to help raise $40,000 to start a Child Survival Program for impoverished mothers and children in Embu, Kenya. Emily's perseverance took her farther than she ever imagined.
Embu, Kenya. To most, it's just a dot on a map. To Emily, it's where she hugged moms, cradled their babies — and learned how much she helped transform this community.
Emily's journey from her home in Atlanta into the arms of grateful mothers and children in Embu began in 2006.
At a youth retreat that summer, Emily heard a message that gave her life new purpose.
The retreat speaker, Pastor Louis Giglio, "challenged us to be more than just good kids," Emily says. "He challenged us to be kids so filled with love for our heavenly Father that we step out of our comfort zones and do great things for God."
The pastor said nearly 10 million children under age 5 die every year of mostly preventable illnesses.* He urged the kids to help.
Praying for God's direction, Emily did some research. She discovered Compassion's Child Survival Program, which works in 14 developing countries to provide pregnant mothers, caregivers and their infants and toddlers nutrition, training and medical care.
When children reach age 4 they are healthy and developmentally ready to transition into Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program.
Like all of Compassion's programs, the Child Survival Program is church-based and carried out by local pastors and staff committed to long-term care and support of vulnerable families in their communities.
The program matched Emily's passions, and she decided she wanted to raise enough money to start Karangare Child Survival Program in Embu.
"Emily has always had a heart for babies," says Emily's mom, Stephanie. But raising the money was harder than Emily thought it would be.
A Difficult Road Ahead
Emily asked her church youth group and church board for help, but they declined, saying her mission didn't fit with theirs.
"We felt like maybe God was shutting the doors," said Stephanie. "So we let it go for a few months."
But Emily's resolve was strong, and she decided to try to raise the funds on her own, with support from her family.
Emily organized bake sales, car washes, a bowl-a-thon and a concert, and sent appeal letters to family and friends.
In six months Emily raised more than $12,000. Then at Christmas 2007, just as Emily was praying about what she could do next, she received an exciting call.
A donor who had heard about Emily's efforts gave a gift of $30,000! Emily was overjoyed.
But she had one more goal.
A Worthwhile Journey
Emily wanted to visit the mothers and children she had worked so hard to help.
On March 7, 2009, she and her family boarded a plane to Nairobi, bags bulging with bottles, blankets and rattles.
Several days later, after a bumpy three-hour trip from Nairobi to Embu, Emily stepped out of her dust-covered van in Embu and into the arms of 75 excited women and children. Clapping, they hugged her and sang in Kiswahili, "We welcome you, our special visitor, to this place!"
The women who farm left their rows of cowpeas and collard greens. The women who weave left their baskets.
They needed to work that day, but they wanted to thank the girl who had given them help and hope even more.
"I did not have a kitchen, bed or toilet before I entered the Child Survival Program," said Gladys. Another mother in the program, Agnes, added, "I have been transformed into a woman of substance."
Everywhere Emily went, mothers thanked her and children ran after her, giggling and holding her hands. Emily took the time to laugh and play with each child.
She hugged the babies and handed them stuffed animals. The children in Compassion's program had plump cheeks. The other children in the village had orange-tinged hair and bloated bellies, all signs of malnutrition.
"This community has many challenges," says Donata Mugoh, the Director at Compassion's Karangare Child Survival Program. Mugoh reports that most people are farmers and rely on sporadic rains.
They don't eat well or often. Malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea are constant threats. Most women can't read or write.
But Compassion's Child Survival Program is equipping women to combat these challenges.
Emily is amazed her efforts could make such a difference.
When she returned home, this quiet girl, who prefers to work behind the scenes, appeared on CNN and has spoken at numerous events.
She speaks to urge people to help children. She also speaks to encourage other kids.
"Find your passion and go with it," she tells them, "and God will really bless you with it."
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