The eighth grade current events class at Gallatin High School is collecting donations to help a needy family in Africa.
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The idea started when the current events class read a story about Beatrice Biira, a poor girl from Uganda in Africa.
Beatrice couldn’t afford to go to school. Children of the Niantic Community Church in Connecticut decided to donate a goat through Heifer International.
"Give a man a fish…" is the philosophy of Heifer International. The organization provides livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income.
Every gift of an animal provides direct benefits such as milk, eggs, wool, fertilizer, as well as indirect benefits that increase family incomes for better housing, nutrition, health care and school fees for children. Recipients "pass on the gift" of offspring of their cows, goats and other livestock to others in an ever-widening circle of hope.
The goat only cost the children of the Niantic Community Church $120. Biira’s family in Africa was chosen to receive the goat. The goat was named Mugisa (which means luck). Soon the goat had twins. The goats were able to produce milk that the family could sell. With the money earned, Beatrice’s mother could afford to send Beatrice and her brothers and sisters to school for the first time in their lives. Beatrice was nearly 13-years-old when she started the first grade, but she worked hard and was an excellent student.
Beatrice won a scholarship to Uganda’s best high school and a scholarship to a prep school in Massachusetts and then went on to a Connecticut college. She is currently earning her masters degree at the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas. She plans to return to Africa and work for an aid group.
"The challenges of global poverty are complex, but all of us can make a difference, even from a little pocket change," said James Marcum, student teacher assisting Mrs. Nelson’s current events class. "The students are learning that sometimes a person’s life can be changed from something as simple and cheap as a little goat."
The eighth grade current events class would like to sponsor an animal for a needy family in a poor country. They call their project "Change for Change."
The eighth graders have already collected nearly $200. They will collect money until the end of October.
If you can help, please give your donation to any Gallatin student. If you would like to sponsor a collection box at your place of business or donate, you may call James Marcum at 816-632-3277 and the eighth graders will get a collection box for the business to take donations.