While in his civics class at Hamilton District Christian School, sixteen-year-old Braden VanDyk received an assignment to run a fundraiser for a world issue. He thought immediately of World Renew’s ministry to at-risk youth.
Braden had recently attended the All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC), where World Renew had an information table, interactive sessions, and even a fun photo booth where youth could make a statement about world issues using props and a chalkboard.
While in his civics class at Hamilton District Christian School, sixteen-year-old Braden VanDyk received an assignment to run a fundraiser for a world issue. He thought immediately of World Renew’s ministry to at-risk youth.
Braden had recently attended the All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC), where World Renew had an information table, interactive sessions, and even a fun photo booth where youth could make a statement about world issues using props and a chalkboard.
At the AOYC event, World Renew had a special focus on raising awareness and support for its ministry to youth at risk in the developing world. In Nicaragua, World Renew works with the YMCA to reach out to young people facing challenges such as limited education and job opportunities, which can put them at risk for getting involved in gangs, crime, prostitution, and trafficking. Through this program youth are equipped to make better choices for themselves and to impact their broader community in a larger way. These choices promote a decrease in HIV and AIDS, a decrease in human trafficking and an increase in education.
Over the course of the AOYC weekend, World Renew worked to raise support to help to expand this program to Nigeria and Senegal as well—so that 5,000 young people in 71 communities could have new hope for the future.
As Braden learned more about the challenges facing youth around the world, he felt compelled to take action to help give young people the resources and opportunities they need to live out their full potential and avoid harmful patterns.
Braden and his classmates decided to call their fundraiser project “Let Kids Be Kids”.
“We called our project Let Kids Be Kids because we think that every kid deserves a childhood.”
“We've grown up in one of the wealthiest nations in the world. We don't know what it’s like to have live in fear or need every day,” explains Braden. “We called our project Let Kids Be Kids because we think that every kid deserves a childhood.”
Braden was encouraged that several classmates and members of his church—Burlington CRC—were also eager to get involved with helping youth in need through World Renew.
The carwash event made for a bustling day. Many people came out from the community and church congregation—and Braden’s group had the busy task of talking to people about the cause and keeping the lineup of cars under control.
“It was very neat to see what people thought about the issue of human trafficking and child slavery around the world,” says Braden. “Some people were shocked to hear some of the facts that I shared.”
Braden and the group also enjoyed the opportunity to wash some classic and expensive cars—including a Porsche and a 1961 Chevrolet Impala!
In total, the event raised at $959.80 for Adolescent Health Programs in Nigeria and Senegal. What’s more, all gifts given to help World Renew reach young people in Nigeria and Senegal are being matched three to one by the Canadian government. That means that the money Braden and his group raised translates into $3,839.20 of ministry that World Renew can carry out!
This fundraiser is a powerful example of people in North American using their time and resources to make a difference in the local and global community.
“Overall the day was a greater success than I could have hoped,” says Braden. “I'm very thankful to anyone that came to support this cause and to all the volunteers that helped out .”
