My Nonprofit Reviews

My mother taught me to be productive, conscientious, and to give. She also taught me art and spontaneity. One day, about six years ago, she dumped all of that on me in one go.
'You're going to Zambia!' She told me.
'I'm sorry' I'm going where?' I knew that my mother was on the board of the African Education Program (AEP), but we had never actually discussed the organization let alone my going over to Zambia. I had just graduated from University and was rather a little preoccupied with finding a job in the middle of an economic downturn. So for me this strange turn of events was a little out of left field.
'Zambia!' She repeated excitedly. 'You're going to teach art to the kids over there! I just bought your plane tickets!'
'Um'' Now I'm even more perplexed. 'You realize I know nothing about art? Or kids? I don't even babysit!'
'Are you saying you don't want to go?' She said in that tone of voice only a mother can conjure implying that if I dare disagree with her there will be hell to pay.
'No! No! Of course I want to go!' I'm in a panic now as she's still narrowing her eyes at me suspiciously. 'I was just pointing out that I'm going to need to learn a few things before I go.' She finds this acceptable.
The next three months my mom, who is a brilliant artist, gives me a crash course in painting. I was so proud of my progress; by the time I left for Zambia you could almost tell what it was I was trying to paint. I was totally owning landscapes! My mother felt a little bit differently.
'Huh'' She examined one of my last paintings before my trip. 'Well' maybe it's a good thing you aren't good at painting. That way you can't hinder the kids creativity.'
So it was with those inspiring words of wisdom that I went off to teach art in Zambia for a month. I was terrified.
There was no need for me to be. It turned out my mom was right. Being a terrible artist did actually make me a good art teacher. That's because art, like life, is a journey. The kids at the Amos Youth Centre, the organization that AEP runs in Zambia, took to the paints like ducks on water. Many of them had never painted before and were so excited (and nervous!) to pick up those paintbrushes. Watching all of that creativity pour out of them is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
Every day I worked with the kids painting, singing, and reading. They told me about their lives, their hopes, and their dreams. They showed me their homes and their favorite places. I loved Zambia so much that I've kept working with AEP and I've gone back to the country and I will go back again, and again, and again.
This past March my mother's journey ended. We lost her to brain cancer. But that cruel disease could not snuff out her bright light. My mother loved AEP because it gives more than just an academic education to the kids. It also teaches the kids to give themselves: to give to each other, to the center, and to their community. I find in AEP everything that my mother believed in.
My giving story is about my wonderful, crazy mother and all that she taught me. I love you, and miss you so much mom.