Help Feed 70 Kids in Africa: Meals, School & More!

Hi friends,

If you’ve been following my adventures via social media, you may know I’m currently in Africa volunteering at a small but mighty low income daycare/ orphanage in Tanzania called Shining Star — and my heart is forever changed.

This isn’t just a school. It’s a safe haven built on love, laughter, and resilience. Every morning, I am greeted with open arms, tiny hands grabbing mine, and smiles that could light up the world. What struck me most wasn’t just how much the kids need — but how much they give. Their joy, despite the challenges, is contagious.

This daycare / orphanage was started by a remarkable woman named, Rose — a single mom who put herself through school so she could create a safe, loving space for local low income families and their children to learn, play, and grow. With minimal resources but maximum heart, she built a place where kids are nurtured, fed, and encouraged to shine. She has also taken in many of these kids in as her own; kids who don’t have families or guardians to care for them. Her love for each and every one of these children is heartwarming and the love they have for her in just the sweetest thing.

its been such a highlight getting to personally know Mamma Rose who is well loved in her community. Something I was able to witness every day when she walked me to and from school. The way the community laughed with her and greeted her was pretty special.

After spending the last couple of weeks with Rose and the children, it’s very apparent they could use our help. Rose funds the entire school herself allowing many of the kids to attend without their families paying a dime, simply because she wants them to feel safe, get educated and have a place to call home. Every day I’ve been there the kids wear the same clothes… dirty, stained and tattered. Rose spends her weekends washing all the children’s clothes so they’re fresh each week.

Here’s what blew my mind: Right now, it takes about $1,500 a YEAR to feed the entire school of 70 kids/ babies. That’s $4 a day to feed an entire school which is less than what some of us spend on our daily Starbucks coffee run.

Sometimes, the smallest gestures make the biggest impact. If you feel at all called to donate, here’s how just a little can go a long way at Shining Star…

• $5 = 1 days worth of food for the entire school or a week’s worth of beans to nourish growing bodies

• $10 = A bag of maize to help feed every child at lunch

• $20 = A month of cooking oil — essential for every meal

• $30 = A month’s supply of nutritional flour, packed with what little bodies need to thrive

• $50 = Buys 2-3 school uniform or funds sugar, rice, or charcoal for an entire month

• $84 = Feeds the entire school rice or sugar for the month

• $90 = Speaker for music - using music to help the kids learn English was such a fun part of my experience. THEY LOVE TO SING AND DANCE! I’m gifting them mine, but I’d love to provide them with another one for the older class.

• $115 = TV for educational purposes

• $150 = stationary and school supplies for the year!

• $250 = Funds white flour or helps cover rent and school essentials

$1400 = school uniforms / clothes for the entire school of 70

• $1,500 = Feeds the entire school for a full year — every meal, every child

Even skipping your daily coffee for a week could help cover a vital ingredient in these kids’ daily meals.

This experience has taught me so much — especially about my own privilege. I know there can be skepticism when it comes to projects like this. The last thing I want is to come off like another white girl “trying to save the world.” But this isn’t about me. This is about Rose’s dream. It’s about standing beside a woman with a vision and a community of bright, beautiful kids who deserve the same future and shot at life as anyone else’s children.

My hope is that, through this campaign, we can come together to uplift a community that has left an imprint on my soul. I’m not here to be a savior — I’m here to be a supporter. And maybe even inspire someone else to find their own way to give, wherever and however they feel called.

If you’re able to donate — whether it’s $5 or $50 — just know it goes directly to supporting real needs and real people. And if you can’t give, sharing this page or simply sending love makes a difference, too.

I will also be sharing updates on all the things the kids receive to give anyone who donates a first hand look at where their money is going and how it’s impacting them.

If you’ve gotten this far, thanks for taking the time to read this. I appreciate you. Let’s help these shining stars keep shining.

With love and gratitude,

Chelsea