Painted Rocks
Posted: Thursday, December 10, 2009
by Fireflies Team
Fireflies For the Heart
She picks up the small stone and admires the bright colors. "How much do you think we should ask for this one?" she asks her friend. They bicker for awhile, and then come to an agreement just in time.
"Hurry! Look! Here comes someone!"
9 year old Janine and a friend were selling their artwork (painted rocks) at a roadside stand to raise spending money. But something happened when the money started coming in the two girls decided to put their money where it mattered saving the rainforest around their town.
The girls created a non-profit organization and opened a store, Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR), in a corner of a local hotel restaurant. That little corner has now (9 years later) turned into a successful store that sells donated artwork and merchandise to raise funds for KSTR's numerous projects. The store also distributes information about their organization and important environmental issues affecting their area. 100% of the profits go directly to KSTR and Janine's ongoing quest of saving their local rainforest.
One of the first projects Kids Saving the Rainforest took on revolved around the native (and endangered) Titi (squirrel) monkeys which were dying at an alarming rate. With some investigation, the girls discovered two problems. One was that the monkeys were being hit by cars as they tried to cross the roads; and the other was that they were being electrocuted trying to cross over on power lines.
To address the problems, KSTR instituted monkey bridges which are ropes stretched across the roads so the animals can cross safely. Over 120 such monkey bridges have been put up with the help of the local hydroelectric company and local experts. They are maintained by Kids Saving The Rainforest (KSTR).
Janine is also busy helping plant indigenous trees around the town in which the monkeys and other wildlife feed and live. So far they have planted over 5,000 trees which were also in danger of extinction.
Janine had another idea why not sponsor a kid's camp every Saturday where she and others teach children about the rainforest, its destruction, and how to help save it? "Kids are the future. We are the generation that will have to make a difference. Everything depends on us," says Janine. Some of the artwork created by the children attending these camps is sold in the KSTR store.
Janine has been instrumental in other projects as well:
- creating a website
- raising money for and purchasing property for an animal rehabilitation center
- a gift shop that sells artwork created by kids and local people
- a program within the community teaching about why NOT to feed the monkeys
- a public library (the first in the area) with over 2000 books people can borrow.
- KSTR has also published 3 children's books that are being sold
- Sister Schools in Denmark , Pakistan , England , Viet Nam , France , Canada , India , the U.S.A. and Costa Rica .
Janine says, "With the help of volunteers, friends, classmates and the community, we've gone a long way. I believe kids can make a real difference."
Although Janine was only 9 years old when she and a friend got the idea of selling painted rocks to help save the rainforest, she didn't consider age a factor against them. They started asking for help until they found it!
Janine has remained a major force behind all the projects. With the assistance of her board of directors and generous volunteers, Janine is truly making a difference in her world.
What does it take to make a big difference? It takes one step at a time. Janine didn't start out with a successful organization; she started out selling painted rocks at a roadside stand. Each question she asked and each request for help was a single step along her pathway to success.
Don't think you have to start out big as the saying goes, "the trip of a thousand miles begins with the first step." Be like Janine and get started on your trip!!
Ginny Dye, Sandi Valentine & Suess Karlsson are a team of writers who all share a passion to empower and motivate everyone who they touch through their writing. Their stories are a gift to the world! Learn how to create the success you dream of, overcome obstacles and challenges, and live a life of grace and love. Please visit us at http://www.firefliesfortheheart.com
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