Six-Year-Old With A Business Plan Provides for Children in Poverty

When 5-year-old Norah learned about children in poverty around the world, she asked her mom if she could do something to help. Her mom, Ana, didn’t hesitate. Sponsoring a child with Compassion seemed like a practical way for Norah to make a difference. So the day of the Compassion Sunday event at their church, they chose to sponsor a young girl named Dermene from Togo.

A few months later, Norah smiled as she slid her business plan across the table to her mother. This plan would be Norah’s first step in her fight against poverty. Norah outlined her idea to craft everything from scrunchies and earrings to bookmarks and keychains to raise money for Dermene. Her business name? Norah Creates.

On most days, Norah, now 6, loves playing with her friends and sledding when it’s snowing outside her Michigan home. But when Norah sits down for her homeschooling, she isn’t just a first grader. She’s an entrepreneur. Her math lessons include calculating her product costs. Writing and reading exercises are spent communicating with Dermene in Togo. And her projects include sewing and creating products to sell — with 100% of proceeds going to fund Dermene’s sponsorship.

In 2021, a local coffee shop supported Norah by hosting her craft show. People from the community lined up out the door to purchase one of her amazing creations. All items were handcrafted by Norah and priced $1, $2 or $5 so she could do the math herself. At the end of the day, Norah counted her earnings — a grand total of $700! This amount would more than cover a year of sponsorship for Dermene and double Norah’s earnings from the previous year.

Norah’s eyes sparkle as she thinks about the impact she is having in Dermene’s life. “You don’t have to be an adult to make a difference,” she says. When asked about Dermene, Norah says, “Her favorite food is rice — just like me!” Norah can also relate to Dermene’s sense of responsibility for her family. Dermene helps her mom and dad by gathering firewood and water each day. Norah helps by keeping an eye on her two younger brothers and two foster siblings.

Norah’s mom smiles as she strokes Norah’s hair. “Our family values are to love Jesus, love others and be good stewards of our money,” she shares. “These are the main things we want our kids to learn before they become adults.” Norah is demonstrating a firm understanding of these values with her small business and her heart for her sponsored child. And she’s inspiring others.

Norah’s little brother is excited about sponsoring a child of his own when he turns five and is already thinking through his own business plan. Norah has also inspired two friends who are making bracelets to support their sponsored children too. “We should help others because it’s how we would want to be treated,” Norah shares matter-of-factly. And with that, Norah giggles and shrugs. Talking about her business is fun, but her favorite thing to do is get creative. Because Norah Creates.