GIVING A HELPING HAND

Freshman Mason White and her family are providing assistance to an orphanage in Ethiopia, Africa.

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Sarah Wells

Mason White, a freshman, hands out toys to children in the orphanage (courtesy photo).

Mason White and her family embody the meaning of making a change. Right now they are supporting an orphanage in Ethiopia, Africa by sending the orphanage clothes and food, and by providing financial assistance.

The orphanage that they are supporting is in a small village in Ethiopia, and all but three of the children are under two years old. White’s family was given a land grant to start constructing new buildings for the orphanage in a new location that will be much larger.

It will include buildings that will be used to make baby food for the kids and to sell to other people in the community. Other buildings provide spaces for the children to live and grow.

Each building will have what is known as a ‘house mother,’ who acts as a caretaker and mother for the children. Having a house mother will make it like the children are growing up as a normal family.

White’s family will also be putting in a clean well for drinking water, which is very rare and expensive in developing nations. At the same time, White’s family is making money for the orphanage and providing for their people.

“Unlike a lot of nonprofits, we are not supporting them [the orphanage] foreignly. We will teach them how to live on their own sustainably and how to grow their own food,” Mason White said.

Mason and her family are ensuring that the orphanage and the village prosper which enriches the futures of children in need.