Spring Break
UNT students aspire to educate Africa's children
Taylor Short
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: NEWS
Three UNT students are traveling to one of Africa's poorest slums to improve the lives of underprivileged children and their community.
International studies juniors Lindsey Bengfort and Janiece Black, accompanied by RTVF sophomore Jeremy Schmidt, are members of the nonprofit student organization the Kroo Bay Initiative and will leave Aug. 5 for the Kroo Bay slums, one of the poorest areas in the Sierra Leone capital of Freetown.
Of the about 6,000 people in Kroo Bay, almost all live in dilapidated shacks surrounded by heaps of garbage and open sewers, she said. They are in constant danger of floods from the local rivers, which bring diseases and pests. In addition to the poor living conditions, several thousand people have been displaced by 11 years of conflict.
"Many of the rebels who fought came from Kroo Bay and areas like it," said Doug Henry, of the anthropology department and a member of the initiative's board of directors.
According to statistics from the Central Intelligence Agency, the life expectancy for those living in Sierra Leone is 40.93 years with a high risk of contracting an infectious disease. Sierra Leone has an unequal income distribution, and about 70 percent of the population was below the poverty line in 2004.
Bengfort said she first visited the area with the Global Youth Partnership for Africa, a non-profit organization that takes students to participate in bi-cultural discussions and charities.
"When I visited, I did a walk through from one side of the slum to the other," Bengfort said. "The people were living in the worst conditions I've ever seen in my life, but they were still so positive."
The people's optimistic attitudes despite living in harsh conditions are what made Bengfort want to help, she said.
Bengfort said Schmidt will film the trip.
"Once we get back and edit the film, the board will vote on how to sell it," Bengfort said.
According to the initiative's Web site, within the next year, the Kroo Bay Youth Center will select a pool of 20 children whose profiles will be sent to the initiative's board of directors to be chosen for scholarships. Each year the initiative plans to award four to six scholarships and eventually maintain a school to provide free education for all the children.
Because of unbalanced literacy rates, two females will be chosen for every one male.
The scholarships will include tuition, uniforms, supplies and vaccinations costing about $400 per child. The money is acquired by small fundraising efforts and donations. Bengfort said she is applying for grants and planning an all-day concert in October to help raise more money.
"It's all about education," she said. "If they have better education, they'll be able to get jobs and get out."
International studies juniors Lindsey Bengfort and Janiece Black, accompanied by RTVF sophomore Jeremy Schmidt, are members of the nonprofit student organization the Kroo Bay Initiative and will leave Aug. 5 for the Kroo Bay slums, one of the poorest areas in the Sierra Leone capital of Freetown.
Of the about 6,000 people in Kroo Bay, almost all live in dilapidated shacks surrounded by heaps of garbage and open sewers, she said. They are in constant danger of floods from the local rivers, which bring diseases and pests. In addition to the poor living conditions, several thousand people have been displaced by 11 years of conflict.
"Many of the rebels who fought came from Kroo Bay and areas like it," said Doug Henry, of the anthropology department and a member of the initiative's board of directors.
According to statistics from the Central Intelligence Agency, the life expectancy for those living in Sierra Leone is 40.93 years with a high risk of contracting an infectious disease. Sierra Leone has an unequal income distribution, and about 70 percent of the population was below the poverty line in 2004.
Bengfort said she first visited the area with the Global Youth Partnership for Africa, a non-profit organization that takes students to participate in bi-cultural discussions and charities.
"When I visited, I did a walk through from one side of the slum to the other," Bengfort said. "The people were living in the worst conditions I've ever seen in my life, but they were still so positive."
The people's optimistic attitudes despite living in harsh conditions are what made Bengfort want to help, she said.
Bengfort said Schmidt will film the trip.
"Once we get back and edit the film, the board will vote on how to sell it," Bengfort said.
According to the initiative's Web site, within the next year, the Kroo Bay Youth Center will select a pool of 20 children whose profiles will be sent to the initiative's board of directors to be chosen for scholarships. Each year the initiative plans to award four to six scholarships and eventually maintain a school to provide free education for all the children.
Because of unbalanced literacy rates, two females will be chosen for every one male.
The scholarships will include tuition, uniforms, supplies and vaccinations costing about $400 per child. The money is acquired by small fundraising efforts and donations. Bengfort said she is applying for grants and planning an all-day concert in October to help raise more money.
"It's all about education," she said. "If they have better education, they'll be able to get jobs and get out."
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