With all the bad news around, I thought I would share an inspirational story to show that the generation behind us is alive, well and giving. It sure cheered me up.
Her mother must have been slightly hysterical when her beautiful ten year old daughter came home with the plan.
Aviana and a few of her friends were going to shave their heads to publicize their fund raiser to aid the Uganda Project funded through The Global Heart. Their objective is to build schools in Africa.
But CK, who some of you may know from the blog she shares with Michelle, divinepurposeunleashed, went along with it. How can you not support a generous child with such a huge heart?
Turned out she was the only one. The other parents may have objected.
Aviana was scared after she did it. She even cried. But the whole class applauded her when she went to school and it made her feel better. Her mother CK writes –
It was shaky there for a few hours. Afterwards she cried as she was the only one. She called herself ‘ugly’ and cried, sad and angry. She wanted her hair back. I looked over at her hair (all of it) lying lifeless on the table and exclaimed, “Oh, I get it…you think it’s your hair that makes you beautiful…how about you run off then so I can spend some time alone with your hair.”Well, something shifted in her and about 30 minutes later, my daughter was dancing and singing out loud about how beautiful she is. Do you know what else she is? Brave. Courageous. Caring. Daring. And her own person. Being the only girl who shaved her head, she is getting lots of positive feedback. And I think she gets that she is not her hair.
Last I heard, Aviana has collected about $500. Her goal is $10,000. which goes a long way in Uganda.
Please look at the enclosed video and her picture. She is beautiful without hair – but her insides are shining out of those eyes and she is magnificent. All is well with the world after all.
Open your heart – and your wallet and send on a few dollars to Aviana – or even a few more. I could not resist sending her some money by PayPal. Generosity from our young people should be encouraged.
The gift was for me. It made me feel wonderful. You will too.
[youtube]72vTHesO274[/youtube]
(subtitled video version of Aviana talking)
You can donate here -
UPDATE:
You can also send checks made out to the
JUST LIKE MY CHILD FOUNDATION
to Aviana
Black Cat Books
720 Manitou Ave
Manitou Springs CO 80829
or donate directly to JustLikeMyChild
and mention Aviana in the comment section.
Thank you!
Read the original posting about Aviana at
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the difference between life and death here. For the children in Uganda it very well could be. Thank you for supporting me and Uganda. I’m on the news on Wednesday at 5pm. Corinne, thank you for asking people to donate! Just one penny would be enough… but if they could give $100.00 to The Global Heart on your website that would be great. And if you donate $100.00 or more then your name can be on the school wall. Thank you thank you thank you!
I blog about it on my blog too.
Great action, Aviana.
Dear Aviana -
It is a great honor to support your fund raising in Uganda. I think that you will have many people who will donate. You will not have shaved your beautiful head in vain!
We don’t need to be on the school wall. You are on the personal wall in our hearts.
If someone wants to send a check – Please give information and address.
Much love and success with your project!
Corinne
This is a girl who will make a difference in the World.
Bless her heart. The world is better for her and gives one hope for the future.
I will definitely contribute.
Corinne, Thank You for helping! My mom says that if anyone wants to send a check made out to Just Like My Child Foundation, they can send it to Black Cat Books 720 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO 80829 Attn: me (I mean Aviana) The foundation will send a receipt.
Karen – Karooch and Penny -
It gives us hope when there are kids like this coming up behind us!
Aviana -
Thanks for the address. There are many who do not use PayPal or hesitate to put their credit cards on line.
Have also put the address for checks on the end of this article.
Hope that will encourage people to support you if it is only a little amount of money. It adds up!
Aviana is so beautiful. Just look at her eyes – so much life, kindness, energy, courage and understanding are in her. She is so young but so smart. She can be proud of herself. Children like Aviana make us believe that not everything is lost for the future world yet.
This is such a wonderful story! My daughter and her peers are working all summer to raise money for kids in Uganda by hosting fundraisers in our community. What a pleasure to read about another selfless teen who is willing to see further than her own surroundings! You and she should be so proud! Kudos to you both!
Rebecca
Dear Rebecca -
Thanks for adding to the story of how children can make a difference in life.
There is a new generation which will put us all to shame. They have come into this world with the biggest hearts and such awareness of all the work to be done to make our planet
whole.
My congratulations to your daughter and her friends.
As “Baccarat” said, these children “make us believe that not everything is lost for the future world yet!”