One kid CAN make a difference around the world.
The images on the television screen shook her 5th grade reality. As Kendall sat watching an Oprah Winfrey Show highlighting the plight of African AIDS orphans, she began to imagine herself, 11-year-old Kendall Ciesemier, alone, living in a mud hut, caring for her younger siblings and grieving the death of my parents. Having experienced struggle in her own life, their pain resonated with Kendall and she was in awe of what appeared to be their unwavering hope.
That night, she knew she had seen the opportunity she was waiting for—her chance to give her life more purpose than the chronic liver disease she had grown up fighting against.
Online after the show, she found an orphan sponsorship program where she met Benite, an 8-year-old girl from Mauritania who needed her help. Months after sponsoring Benite with $360 of her own money, Kendall received a letter from her about starting school for the first time. Witnessing the newfound hope in her life led her to believe that with a little help, she could change many more lives.
That summer, as she underwent two liver transplants, she asked that in lieu of gifts, friends and family donate money to help more children like Benite. With their generosity Kendall sponsored the village of Musele, Zambia. By the end of the summer, she had raised over $15,000 as kids from across the country, hearing of her effort, started their own fundraisers. As a result of this snowball effect, Kendall decided to officially organize the effort, calling it “Kids Caring 4 Kids.”
Since then, thousands of kids across the country have answered the call to help other kids at The Lifesong School. Kids of all ages have held basketball tournaments, dance marathons, penny wars, lemonade stands and other fundraisers to support The Lifesong School.
Kids Caring 4 Kids has drawn the attention of national television broadcasts (including The Oprah Winfrey Show), major metropolitan newspapers and newscasts, and even former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Kids Caring 4 Kids has a twofold focus of raising funds for The Lifesong School to support students in Kitwe, Zambia and growing generous hearts and global vision among kids.