On Dec. 13, 2018, Nubia Wilson turned 16. But instead of1with an exciting Sweet 16 birthday party, the California teen devoted this milestone to 2 the lives of orphans in Ethiopia.
Through several summers of volunteer work at an Ethiopia orphanage, Nubia learned firsthand the severe poverty so many children3. In an email to The Huffington Post, Nubia said that she was4struck by the children's lack of access to5-their school only went through the fourth grade.
Over the course of her volunteer work, Nubia became6in one student, Hermela. She writes: Out of the many students in the kindergarten class, Hermela became7and attached to me to a point where it was becoming8for both of us to leave each other. She is now in the second grade. The thought of Hermela not being able to have her meal and9education after the fourth grade became 10 and I knew I had to do something.
That's when Nubia decided that she didn't want a traditional Sweet 16.11, she wanted to use the money her parents would have spent on a party to establish12grade class for Hermela and other kids.
"The money could provide a(n)13solution that will serve for many years compared to the one-day14of my party," Nubia wrote to Huffpost Live. In short, I want Hermela to continue15.
After telling friends and family her16, Nubia set up a(n)17page "Keep Hermela Smiling" on CrowdRise. Her18will raise funds for the Fregenet Foundation, which funds education and community services in Ethiopia.
So far, Nubia has19$ 2,781 of her $ 10,000 goal. Nubia says that her parents have been extremely20; they're selling most of their Ethiopian artifacts to help raise funds.
Nubia's birthday may not have been a party, but it's truly a celebration.
