Just thirteen years old, Kendall Ciesemier works to raise money to help AIDS orphans in Africa through a charity she founded called, “Kids Caring 4 Kids.” Kids Caring 4 Kids raises funds to support other charitable organizations and individuals who strive to help children in Africa where AIDS has hit the hardest. Kendall’s priority project concerns raising money for Musele, Zambia through World Relief, an international Christian relief and development organization. This project has an annual budget of $60,000. To date, Kendall and her supporters have raised approximately $50,000 through garage sales, lemonade stands, bake sales, and outright donations. Kendall has spoken to schools, businesses, and civic organizations. Recently, she has teamed up with local churches to deliver her message to children and young adults.
After viewing an Oprah Winfrey special in the winter of 2004, Kendall decided that she had to do something more to help the fourteen million AIDS orphans of Africa. She began by making her own annual contribution of 360 dollars to World Vision’s adoption-by-contribution program. In June, as Kendall faced an upcoming liver transplant, she organized her effort, ”Kids Caring for Kids.” She asked friends and family to send donations in lieu of flowers or gifts. As time passed Kendall decided to form her own charity and set up her own Web page for online donations.
Kendall explains her cause in her own words, “I’m just a girl who wants to make a difference for other kids. I first became aware of the African AIDS epidemic and the orphaned children when watching an Oprah Winfrey special last winter. I couldn’t believe that so many children lived alone. I couldn’t believe that when their parents died there was nowhere for the kids to go! Kids, I realized, were caring for kids. I knew then that I wanted to do something to help.” Kendall knows firsthand the fragility and challenges of a life––and how love and care gives life meaning and purpose. Kendall does not want attention for herself and her trials. But she wants people to focus on what millions of kids in Africa suffer, including those children who don’t have the benefit of a loving family, supportive friends, and medical care.
Kendall has inspired so many people. She underwent not only one, but two liver transplants during the summer of 2004. Kendall’s health struggle continues. She recently underwent another major surgery to correct a complication from her latest transplant. Yet she perseveres. Over the past couple of the years, Kendall and her supporters have made and sold T-Shirts, dog necklaces, raffled quilts, and held bake sales and penny wars. Kendall has inspired kids to undertake their own causes, either on their own or in groups, to work toward helping the less fortunate. Kendall’s actions, her compassion, and the example of her own courage in her struggle during her time of need has inspired many kids to see that they, too, can become a “kid caring for kids,” making their own positive impact on the world.
To learn more about Kendall and her cause, and how you can make a difference, please visit:
www.Kidscaring4Kids.org
Read More Hero Stories >
