Whiz Kid: The International Fundraiser

It started out as a simple 20-hour school community service assignment. But Emma Schwartz's project to help a girl on the other side of the world has turned into a life-changing experience for the girl--and for herself. 

Emma, an eighth-grader who lives in Walnut Creek and attends Danville's Athenian School, has decided to raise $1,556 to help a 15-year-old girl named Betty, who lives in the African nation of Malawi, attend secondary school for four years.  

For Betty, this opportunity to go to school means the difference between a life of poverty and struggle--and a life of opportunity, security, comfort, even prosperity.  

Lafayette-based VoiceFlame Writers International caught Emma's attention because of their mission to help women writers around the world publish creative works as well as social and political commentary. The non-profit also provides education scholarships to girls and young women in developing nations. 

“When I read about the educational scholarships being provided to girls my age, I felt I could help," Emma says.

This project has given Emma a chance to see the differences in the ways people think about education in the United States and in a country like Malawi.

“I think here in the U.S. everyone takes education for granted,' said Emma.

The U.S. State Department describes Malawi as a struggling, densely populated landlocked country that is heavily reliant on foreign aid but is slowly making strides economically and politically.

Public school is not available to kids beyond elementary school, says Mary Tuckscherer, founder of VoiceFlame Writers International. The situation is worse for girls. If families are going to work and save to send their children to secondary school, they will usually elect to send their sons over their daughters. Only 11 percent of girls in Malawi have the chance to attend secondary school. 

Betty doesn't even have parents. Her mother died in a car accident; her father after a long illness. She's been left to care for her younger siblings--while also trying to get an education. 

Girls like Betty know that going to school is the key to their families' future. 

"These are children who want to go to school to support their families, and I really found that to be touching," Emma said. 

Emma was excited to turn over the three-quarters of the amount she's raised so far for Betty's education.  To raise money, she distributed bookmarks and fliers at school, asking students and parents to donate. She also made appeals for donations at her church.

“That really made me feel so amazing, that I could help,” said Emma. “Just learning about her situation was so interesting.”

“Every time I work on my community service project, I just think about everything I have, and what the kids I go to school have,” said Emma.

Emma did all the fundraising on her own, but her mom supported her through the process.

“I was so inspired in the work that she was doing with women and girls,” said Cindy Turner, Emma’s mom. “[The women and girls in Malawi] better themselves, and they bring that money home, educate their family. That’s pretty remarkable.”

In addition to all her community service work, Emma also enjoys swimming, kung fu and reading.

“I’d love to visit [Betty in Africa] in the future, and hopefully see her prosper with her scholarship,” said Emma. “That would be a really special life-changing moment.”

If you are interested in donating so that Emma can reach her final goal of $1,556 for Betty's schooling, visit http://voiceflamewriters.org/ or contact Mary Tuckscherer at 510-205-3089. You can also mail a check to Voice Flame Writers,  P.O. Box 373, Lafayette, Ca, 94549.