My Nonprofit Reviews
deeganmarilyn
Review for Kids Around the World, Rockford, IL, USA
On the first day of a Beslan, South Ossetia (Russia) school in 2004, Chechen rebels took an entire school hostage. The takeover lasted days and resulted in many children, parents and teachers being executed. The horrific story in the news caught my attention and when I heard Kids Around the World was planning to build a playground there I jumped on board. Every person in Beslan had been affected by the deaths in some way. The cemetery had been expanded, and the row after row of new headstones was heartbreaking. As we prepared the playground site at another school across town, children hung around the edges, watching and waiting. Parents and townspeople were so welcoming and hospitable, bringing us food and even allowing us to visit their homes. The celebration following the completion of the playground included speeches, ceremonial toasts, folk dances and a school choir performance - perhaps the first thing worth celebrating since the trauma the year before. Seeing young school teachers whirling around on the merry-go-round along with a mob of children, all shrieking with laughter, was the highlight of my trip. The grip of darkness and evil was broken in that moment, and the spell of sadness was lifted, giving hope for the future.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing the excitement on children's faces when they first are allowed to play on the playground. It's also exciting to pack food for Haiti or the Horn of Africa and know families are eating because of our effort.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
I enjoyed the trip to Russia, the sense of camaraderie with my teammates, the sightseeing opportunities we were given, visiting an orphanage, but the thrill of seeing happy children made it worthwhile. I was able to speak with several groups about my experience, hopefully raising awareness about "KATW" and encouraging financial and prayer support.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
It was a job well done.
