Over the last couple of years, so much more importance has been placed on recycling and reducing your carbon footprint. Claire Uttley, 17, has done her best to urge her college to ‘go green’. She says, "I take the environment and recycling very seriously and I didn’t see why I was doing so much for it at home but not at college so I thought I should do something about it!" Claire told us how she posted flyers around the school, handed out leaflets and was also given permission to speak in a school assembly to tell the students how easily they could help do their bit for the environment. We asked her if the situation has changed since she put forward her ideas and she is thrilled with the reaction. "The teachers all took what I had to say very seriously and we now have three different recycle bins in the cafeteria as well as posters around the college, especially in the computer rooms urging us not to waste paper. I’m so happy with how people have reacted."

David Hawkridge, 24, takes part in Aiesec meetings at his university which is a society that converts graduates into leaders. Aiesec is a non-profit organisation, so it is classed as a charity and they run exchange programmes which involve sending students over to less privileged countries, such as Africa, to help in the society there. "It is such an interesting society, I joined it as soon as I started at university and have loved it ever since. It helps people who take interest in less privileged places have the opportunity to help directly in those situations. As they help us develop leadership skills, it means that in the future, we may be able to help on a wider scale, and really change the world."

CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) is an organization that provides resources to bring a Christian insight to society in hopes of changing the future for the better. Kaelyn Malkowski has got involved with CARE and traveled to Honduras to help them make a difference. Kaelyn tells us that the area of CARE she is most interested in is "to help the poorest children around the world receive an education and break their cycle of poverty." Together with her mother, Kaelyn created a coloring book that donated money to CARE with every purchase. Of all the products she could have chosen, Kaelyn chose a coloring book because she believed it helped the children share their hopes and ambitions for their future. "Even though these children had so little, they were so proud of their school and country and all had great aspirations for their future. I brought paper and colors for the children and at each stop they gave me drawings to tell me a little bit more about themselves. I was so impressed with the drawings that I had to tell their story and help more children achieve an education." Sharing the children’s drawings also helped U.S parents and children to understand how fortunate they are and how similar they are to children in Honduras.

Kaelyn had to go through a lot of trouble to get 100% of the coloring book profits to go to children in Honduras but it is evident she believes it was worthwhile. Aside from helping change the world, Kaelyn is a freshman in college and she tells us that it seems like she never gets any sleep! "I try to be a student that can help others and make a daily difference to other students who need help or moral support." She has also lobbied in Washington on behalf of the poor. "My issue dealt with the significant consequences of child marriage, not only for girls themselves, but for entire communities and societies as the practice perpetuates poverty and poor health." Kaelyn is a living example of how one person can make a difference to the world, and is truly an inspiration to anybody who is trying to change the future. She says, "Never, ever underestimate the power of talking out to represent those who don’t have a voice. Even if you influence only one person, you’ve made more of a difference than if you stayed in the crowd and didn’t talk up because you were overwhelmed, or thought one person couldn’t make a difference." Talking about her future plans, Kaelyn wants to carry on speaking for people who don’t have a voice. "I want to follow Gandhi’s advice…”Be the change you wish to see in the world.”’

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Homepage
Title:
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments