Hi!  I'm Ella McClain.  I'm a Junior in High School in Wichita, KS.  Many of you likely know me through friends and family.  Something I have a passion for is working alongside people who share my desire to improve quality of life for individuals around the world.

Since the seventh grade I have been interested in the Peace Corps.  For as long as I can remember, I've had a passion for service work and I love meeting new people and exploring new cultures.  While exploring, for what seemed like the thousandth time, the Peace Corps website, I discovered a youth version of the Peace Corps called GLA (Global Leadership Adventures).  This program is truly amazing as it provides incredible opportunities for service and personal growth to high school students all around the world!  I am asking you to help me in raising the money for my tuition, airfare  and expenses to afford me this amazing opportunity, in Ghana, Africa. During my three weeks there, I will be working in a local primary school and helping to make bricks to use in building schools and homes.  
Ghana - Children of Africa

Below are some highlights of my service work...to date.
6th Grade
- 1st Church Mission Trip!  (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Vacation Bible School Volunteer (1st graders)
7th Grade "DISCOVERED PEACE CORPS"
- Church Mission Trip (Kansas City, KS/MO)
-Vacation Bible School Volunteer (1st graders)
8th Grade
-Church Mission Trip (Tulsa, OK)
-Vacation Bible School Volunteer (3rd graders)
9th Grade
-Mountain TOP (Tennessee Outreach Project)
10th Grade
-Mountain TOP 
11th Grade
-Started donating blood on 16th birthday!!! (My gift to myself.)
-Mountain TOP (pending)

Other volunteer work that I have done or do is with the Kansas Humane Society, Wichita Presbyterian Manor, Kansas Food Bank, The Lord's Diner, American Red Cross, multiple elementary and middle schools in Wichita, horse rescue volunteer and anywhere else that will let me through the door.  I love people!!

While I have been accepted in the GLA program and paid my nonrefundable deposit, there is still much fundraising to do.  Knowing full well this trip would not be possible without the generosity of many, I will be carrying a symbol of your support.  My “Go to Ghana” lanyard will be composed of yellow, green and red beads (the colors of the Ghanaian flag).  For every donation between $1-50 I will add a green bead, $51-100 I will add a red bead, and for every donation in excess of $100 I will add a yellow bead to my lanyard.  Each bead will contain the initials of the donor.  Any donations in excess of my trip needs will be delivered to the school in Ghana where I will be providing service.

Thank you for your love and support.

Ella