Mariama's Campaign for Sierra Leone
Donation protected
My name is Mariama Gifftian Kpaka- Sengita. I was born and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa. A civil war in my country forced my family (mom, step dad and brother) to come to the United States. I was 12 years old. I am a US citizen, an educator, a mentor, a coach, a counselor, a friend, a sister and more importantly, I am a mother to two of the best little people (I am biased of course).
In May 2014, my somewhat ordinary life in Minnesota, became quite extraordinary. We found out that a voracious virus in West Africa was making people ill and killing them in matter of days. Four months later, thousands of people across 5 countries in West Africa are dead and will keep dying.
The news, whether international or local has been heart breaking to listen to and watch. For weeks, I have felt hopeless, watching bodies upon bodies abandoned on the streets. Children are dying on the streets. Their bodies are piled ontop of one another as medical teams spray and burn their bodies. Phone calls from friends and family with any real live news is far and in between.
I have never been a person to sit back and watch injustice take place for any reason. I am an American but I am also a Sierra Leonean. My father, along with thousands of others like him are ill and not receiving adequate care. There are over 2 million children in Sierra Leone that haven't attended school since the outbreak in May. A projected date to return to school is mid to late 2015. Millions more are orphaned due to the deaths of their immediate care givers and fear in their families and community that they too may carry the virus. They are the "untouchables".
I have chosen not to travel to Sierra Leone at this time. The uncertainty of not knowing when I would be able to return to my little girls was one burden I couldn't live with. I am trusting the American Red Cross to interven on my behalf. My original purpose for this campaign remains. Funds raised will go directly to the children of Sierra Leone. More specially to fund continued education initiatives.
Even though I will not be traveling, I refuse to sit in silence. My father in Sierra Leone, along with thousands of others in countries like Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo need your immediate assistance.
My plan is to raise enough funds that will provide food medical and educational aide to as many people as possible. As an educator in the US, I know first hand the ramifications of a student missing just one hour of intruction in their school day. So the idea of children missing an entire year of school is unacceptable to me as it should be for everyone. Here's how you come in.
I am looking for people to contribute towards the following:
1. Food support (clean water, rice, palm oil, meats & fish, greens, fruits and vegitables, etc.)
2. Medical supplies (masks, body suits, first aide treatments, chlorine tablets, etc).
3. School Supplies (radios- for the school through radio program, books, pencils, markers, rulers, calculators etc.
I invite you to join my campaign. Help share mine, and thousands of other stories like mine with people in your communities (school, work, church, mosques, dance class, car pool, soccer field, bus, train etc.) and around the world. We are a global society, we must treat each other with compassion and humanity.
I also invite you to: READ. EDUCATE. ACT (REA). Read and only listen to the facts. Learning the facts about ebola and the impact it has in the world will allow you to educate and empower many people to move from fear into meaningful action.
Your support is extremely imperative in saving thousands if not millions of lives.
Sincerely,
Mariama Gifftian Kpaka-Sengita
(A concerened citizen/activist)
In May 2014, my somewhat ordinary life in Minnesota, became quite extraordinary. We found out that a voracious virus in West Africa was making people ill and killing them in matter of days. Four months later, thousands of people across 5 countries in West Africa are dead and will keep dying.
The news, whether international or local has been heart breaking to listen to and watch. For weeks, I have felt hopeless, watching bodies upon bodies abandoned on the streets. Children are dying on the streets. Their bodies are piled ontop of one another as medical teams spray and burn their bodies. Phone calls from friends and family with any real live news is far and in between.
I have never been a person to sit back and watch injustice take place for any reason. I am an American but I am also a Sierra Leonean. My father, along with thousands of others like him are ill and not receiving adequate care. There are over 2 million children in Sierra Leone that haven't attended school since the outbreak in May. A projected date to return to school is mid to late 2015. Millions more are orphaned due to the deaths of their immediate care givers and fear in their families and community that they too may carry the virus. They are the "untouchables".
I have chosen not to travel to Sierra Leone at this time. The uncertainty of not knowing when I would be able to return to my little girls was one burden I couldn't live with. I am trusting the American Red Cross to interven on my behalf. My original purpose for this campaign remains. Funds raised will go directly to the children of Sierra Leone. More specially to fund continued education initiatives.
Even though I will not be traveling, I refuse to sit in silence. My father in Sierra Leone, along with thousands of others in countries like Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo need your immediate assistance.
My plan is to raise enough funds that will provide food medical and educational aide to as many people as possible. As an educator in the US, I know first hand the ramifications of a student missing just one hour of intruction in their school day. So the idea of children missing an entire year of school is unacceptable to me as it should be for everyone. Here's how you come in.
I am looking for people to contribute towards the following:
1. Food support (clean water, rice, palm oil, meats & fish, greens, fruits and vegitables, etc.)
2. Medical supplies (masks, body suits, first aide treatments, chlorine tablets, etc).
3. School Supplies (radios- for the school through radio program, books, pencils, markers, rulers, calculators etc.
I invite you to join my campaign. Help share mine, and thousands of other stories like mine with people in your communities (school, work, church, mosques, dance class, car pool, soccer field, bus, train etc.) and around the world. We are a global society, we must treat each other with compassion and humanity.
I also invite you to: READ. EDUCATE. ACT (REA). Read and only listen to the facts. Learning the facts about ebola and the impact it has in the world will allow you to educate and empower many people to move from fear into meaningful action.
Your support is extremely imperative in saving thousands if not millions of lives.
Sincerely,
Mariama Gifftian Kpaka-Sengita
(A concerened citizen/activist)
Organizer
Mariama Gifftian Kpaka
Organizer
