In celebration of World Children's Day, we're sharing a story of a child's generosity toward and appreciation of the people and country of Burundi. World Children’s Day was established by the United Nations in 1954 to promote children’s rights across the world and to promote initiatives that build a better world for all children.
Passing on the Spirit of Philanthropy
When Finley Madison was six years old, a little girl in a small village of Burundi was so intrigued to sit next to her that she reached out to pinch her arm.
Later, Finley quietly shared with her mom that the pinch hurt. It wouldn't have been unusual for Finely to have had a big reaction as young as she was. Instead, she instinctively chose patience, empathy, and generosity.
The little girl liked Finley's shirt's bright colors, so Finley asked if she could give it to her. It was one of the proudest moments of the trip for her parents.
Special Memories and New Friends in Burundi
It's been about a year since Finley was in Burundi with her parents and Gilbert Tuhabonye. She's seven now.
Her parents, Tessa, a Fundraising Coordinator and Special Projects Manager at the Gazelle Foundation, and Michael, a board member, are reminding her of all the memories. The taste of the mangos, banana leaves big enough to double as a sled, the mountains, the greenery, and the bumpy roads leading into villages with crowds of excited children who had never seen a little blonde girl before.
"All the attention could be incredibly overwhelming," said Tessa, who's been to Burundi multiple times. They brought Polaroid cameras to help Finley interact with bigger groups of children who hadn't ever seen their reflection before and art supplies to pass out as gifts.
A Trip to Burundi: What Their Daughter Remembers
When planning their trip to Burundi, Tessa and Michael knew that Finley was mature enough to handle the long hours of travel, but they couldn't predict how much she would understand.
Finley saw the water systems that the Gazelle Foundation builds, their impact, and the critical need they would fill if she were a child living in a village without clean water. "By the time I got back, I would probably just have to turn right back around because those buckets are really heavy. I wouldn't have time for anything else in the day," she said.
Opportunities to Learn Empathy for Others
Her parents saw pieces of empathy for how other people live, and how fortunate they were as a family began resonating for Finley during their time in Burundi.
"We would love it if Finley found a heart for Burundi and a heart for seeing how the rest of the world lives and all of the needs," said Tessa.
Bracelets for Burundi
Finley has decided to use her bracelet-making skills as a way to help raise money for the kids she met in the villages during the trip. Support her campaign here.
Learn About the Work We Do in Rural Burundi
Find out how we helped community’s like the one Finley visited with a new water system, and learn more about how to help other children and families in Burundi. With every tax-deductible donation you make, we invest in water systems in rural Burundi to transform lives through better health, education, and economic opportunity.