Lemonaid
When life deals you lemons, raise a thousand dollars for global development. That’s what 13-year-old Sydney Joss and her 7-year-old brother Dante did, in memory of their great-aunt who died in Zimbabwe of AIDS.
‘Auntie Sharon’ was only 53.
“Auntie Sharon used to look after me, so I wanted to help stop AIDS,” says Sydney.
With the help of Louisiana-based non-profit Kids Wanna Help, the two Calgary youth set up a lemonade stand in the lobby of oil company Nexen. In one day, selling glasses at $3 a squeeze – “but they were big glasses,” notes Sydney – they raised $541. Nexen, where their mother Taryn Seckam works, matched the donation.
“People asked why we were doing this,” says Sydney, “and they were sad to hear about Auntie Sharon. But they were really happy to hear that we were trying to help other people in Africa with AIDS.”
Sending people, not money
They decided to donate the money to CUSO-VSO because the North American development agency works on HIV and AIDS issues in Africa, and Sydney thought that “what CUSO-VSO does is just good.” Taryn supported their choice, adding that “we liked that CUSO-VSO doesn’t send money to solve the problem, because you don’t always know what happens to the money and it’s short-term anyway. Sending people helps build skills and knowledge.”
“And we have that personal connection. When I left Zimbabwe, the statistics were terrible – 1 in 4 people had HIV. But Auntie Sharon wasn’t a statistic, she was family.”
When the cheque for Cdn$1,082 arrived at CUSO-VSO along with the story of how the money was raised, “the whole team was very, very touched,” says Peter Jones, manager of revenue generation. “It’s a wonderful thing those kids did.”
Taryn came to Canada from Zimbabwe 10 years ago for work and a different life for her children. Sydney was born in Africa, and Auntie Sharon used to babysit her on occasion. Dante was born in Canada. Tayrn’s parents and brother still live in the southern African nation, ruled by Robert Mugabe since independence in 1980.
“We’ve built a good life here in Canada, but I want the kids to know about the world, and I want to teach them the importance of giving.” Through work connections, Taryn met Stacey Brown, the mother of two remarkable Louisiana kids – Mary-Brent, age 14, and Beverly, age 11. In 2007, they founded a non-profit organization called Kids Wanna Help.
Kids Wanna Help
“We got the idea because kids were raising money for charities through school and community events, but they didn’t get to decide how to raise the money or where it should go,” says Mary-Brent Brown. “Children helped fundraise, but adults made the decisions. So we started Kids Wanna Help.”
It’s an all-volunteer-run, non-profit organization that gives children the opportunity to raise money for charities through fun activities that also build confidence and self esteem. Mary-Brent hopes the experience encourages a lifetime of social and community responsibility.
Their first fundraiser was a fashion workshop followed by a show that raised over US$11,000 to help families of leukemia patients. The success of the event – not just the money, but also the positive involvement of the kids – spurred the Brown sisters on.
“We then had a lemonade stand for a friend who had cancer and was on chemo. We wanted to raise money for a wig.”
Next on their plate, or more accurately in their glass, was to expand their ‘Lemonade Brigades.’ The idea is that kids could run lemonade stands for charity, while learning important business skills. The participating children are offered a young business owner workshop that teaches them how to start and run their own small business. After that, the kids get advice on choosing a charity that matches their interests.
And then they are open for business. Kids Wanna Help – which receives donations itself for its work – provides all the supplies. Banners, t-shirts, hats, aprons, tablecloths and cups (“reusable,” says Mary-Brent) make this a particularly professional-looking lemonade stand.
The idea has spread across Louisiana, and over US$53,000 has been raised for 15 registered charities in the state.
“But I didn’t think the idea would spread beyond Louisiana,” says Mary-Brent. Calgary is the first Lemonade Brigade outside of the Southern state. Sydney and Dante were sent training materials and supplies, and participated in a training session by phone.
“We’re really proud of Sydney and Dante,” says Mary-Brent. “At our end-of-year award ceremony, they received the award for most money raised at one lemonade stand.”
“And,” says Taryn, “I know that Auntie Sharon would be very proud of Sydney and Dante too.”
