HOW WE CAN HELP!
It takes a village to raise a child. This age-old adage highlights the importance of community and collective responsibility in the upbringing and development of children. The idea is that it takes the combined efforts of everyone in a community to raise a child to be healthy, happy, and successful.
Currently, the children of Kataka are lacking in many areas. They do not have proper clothing to wear during their training sessions so they sport their common clothes which are usually hand-me-downs or just generally clothing not made for rolling around and flipping. Our team at Veii is actively working on producing apparel for the children to wear specifically for training and are committed to supplementing the funds raised that are allocated for this. They also rely heavily on their coaches for meals as many of them are orphans that live with the coaches or come from families that are just barely getting by. Coach Derrick tries his best to provide meals for all the children before and after their practices but oftentimes he is not financially able to carry this burden. With the current funds that we have raised we have been able to assist the coaches with a weekly stipend to help feed the kids.
One of the most important aspects of this village is the spirit of generosity. Giving to others, whether it be through charity or other forms of aid, is a fundamental part of building a strong and supportive community. However, many people view charity as something that is done out of a sense of guilt or pity. This mentality does not truly reflect the spirit of generosity and can actually be counter-productive.
Education is another area that the coaches have heavily emphasized they need help with. There are children in the program that have not been able to attend school due to their socioeconomic circumstances. The coaches have attempted to try teaching these kids themselves to the best of their ability but it is extremely challenging for them to do so. They hope that with the help of the people that hear their story we will be able to raise enough money to enroll these children in formal schooling which is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating a brighter future for them.
Charity should be about giving with a sense of purpose and a desire to make a positive impact. It should be about evoking a spirit of generosity, not out of guilt or pity. When we put forth a genuine desire to help others, we can create a ripple effect of kindness and positivity that can change lives. This is not a "feed the starving children in African" campaign. This is about people helping people.
As you have probably already seen these kids practice outside on dirt or in a landfill. The few pieces of equipment they do have are makeshift items that the coaches have created to emulate real gymnastics equipment. Even so the level of skill they have developed in these conditions is unprecedented! Not only do we want to provide the Kataka Arts Academy with proper equipment but we WILL build a community center for these kids that will serve as a safe haven for them. This community center will be a place that the children can live, learn, and thrive in. It will be a place for them to train with proper equipment and resources that will allow them to chase their dreams.
