Published: May 02, 2008 10:19 am            

The Back Porch: Three young people changing the lives of so many

Originally published in the May 2, 2008, print edition.

“Ideas and Ideals in Life,” “This is Your Lifetime,” “To Greater Heights,” “Your Direction in the World Today,” “Persistence Conquers All,” and “Strive for Fulfillment” are just a sampling of the titles and topics that speakers will give to the graduating classes of 2008 in the weeks ahead. At graduation parties, lunching on punch, ham buns and cake, I listen to audience responses to the featured lecturers. Some find the speakers inspiring, others make guesses at how long it’ll take for the graduates’ big dreams to crash when they hit the reality of the world and workplace.

Let’s face it. Is it really possible to fulfill your lifetime dreams? Is graduation really the launching pad to greater heights and the ability to help solve societal problems? Can these students — can you and I — really change the world?

If you’re in dire need of convincing that graduates and graduation ceremony audiences really can change the world, meet three inspiring kids who are doing just that — long before their own cap and gown ceremonies.

Austin Gutwien, 9-year-old world changer

When 9-year-old Gutwien didn’t make his school’s basketball team, he took his disappointment and launched a new dream that involved his love of basketball and his heart to help others.

Gutwien watched a video that showed children who had lost their parents to AIDS. Suddenly not making the team, didn’t feel so tragic. “I felt God calling me to do something to help them,” he said. On World AIDS Day, 2004, Austin shot 2,057 free throws to represent the 2,057 kids who would be orphaned during his day at school. People sponsored Austin and he raised almost $3,000.

“From that year forward, thousands of people have joined me in a basketball shoot-a-thon called Hoops of Hope,” Gutwien said. By shooting free throws, Hoops of Hope participants have raised money to build a school in Zambia and are currently building a lab there for AIDS testing. “This lab will be saving hundreds of lives every week. I can’t think of a better way to help orphan children than to keep their parents alive,” Gutwien said. The gift of a school and a lab are making a difference for an entire village in Zambia — one hoop at a time. Log on to www.hoopsofhope.org for more information.

Zach Hunter, 12-year-old world changer

When Hunter learned about Harriet Tubman, a former slave who went on to help free other slaves, he told his mom, “Man, if I had lived back then, I would have fought for equality, and against slavery.”

His mom explained that human slavery still exists today. Children and women all around the world — including the United States — are being sold into slavery, often for sexual purposes. Human trafficking is the third most lucrative trade in the world right behind drugs and weapons. One million children and teens are trafficked every year adding to the 27 million that are currently being held in bondage.

Shocked, Hunter started a campaign called Loose Change to Loosen Chains (www.lc2lc.org) because he felt a need to do something to bring freedom to the victims he was learning about. Today Hunter is educating people about slavery, collecting nickels, dimes and quarters, and giving the money to organizations that are preventing enslavement and rescuing slave victims. Hunter refers to himself as a modern day abolitionist as he pursues needed changes in today’s world.

Jaime Colman, 17-year-old world changer

Colman is a junior in high school with big dreams about feet. “I hope to put a shoe on every single foot in Karogoto, Kenya,” She said. The first step to kicking off her dream was hosting a “Barefoot Mile” event at her high school. In spite of the rain showers, 40 people came out on a Saturday morning with bags of shoes to donate and a willingness to walk a mile barefoot.

“I was talking with my youth pastor about making a difference at school and trying to be different,” Colman said. “Our church has adopted a community in Kenya called Karogoto, and we decided that this would be a really neat experience considering we already had a group go over there.”

With help from her parents and others, “Walk Humbly” shoe collection bins were placed in area churches, and middle and high schools. In 2008 Jamie hopes to personally deliver the shoes, praying that there’s enough for every foot in Karogoto.

Read more about Colman’s event at www.timesleader.com/AbingtonJournal/Barefoot_Mile_in_their_shoes.html.

__________________ (your name), world changer

What’s your story? How are you changing the world? Being a world changer doesn’t need to be complicated or costly. It may be as simple as giving a smile, offering an encouraging word, or extending a helping hand.

It is estimated that less than 1 percent of the population of our planet shapes the circumstances, experiences and culture of the other 99 percent. This is staggering proof that, indeed, there are very few active world-changers today.

Take action! It’ll mend statistics and inspire graduates. One life at a time, you and I really can change the world.

        

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