A Letter from Troop 5391

December 16, 2012

Dear Dakotah,

A few weeks ago our Brownie Girl Scout troop spent a meeting reviewing their last 3 1/2 years in Girl Scouts. This meeting was the culminating activity for them to bridge to become Junior Girl Scouts. The purpose of the meeting was to share their 2 years as Brownies with a younger troop of Daisy Girl Scouts. One of the events the girls highlighted was their work on the messenger dolls with you.

You have had a profound impact on our young Girl Scouts! Several of them raised their hand to describe the messenger doll project. My daughter ran inside to grab her doll to share with the younger troop. They talked about the Hokisa orphans and the messages they sent to them. They also shared some of the messages they received from the orphans. The Daisy troop enjoyed seeing the pictures of the girls working on their projects.

I want to thank you for sharing your project with my daughter’s troop. Your leadership and philanthropy at such a young age is inspiring! Our troop will remember the experience you shared with them for years to come. Your message, “small acts of kindness can make a big difference” is growing and spreading in the hearts of our girls! You are a wonderful role model and have proven to them that one person can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Jessica

Co-Leader/Troop Mom

Troop 5391





Thank you Troop 5391 for letting me share the Messenger Doll Project with you. ~Dakotah

Thank You Girl Scouts

It's summertime and I've neglected to post on my blog.  I've already received second requests for the Messenger Doll project from a couple of Girl Scout Troops that I presented to last school year.  So before I roll into the 2012-2013 school year (my senior year!), I'd like to send my gratitude to the following troops for letting me share my experience, thoughts and message with them:

Troop 3470

Troop 5168

Troop 5387

Troop 5391

Troop 5394

Troop 5466

Troop 5545

Troop 5567

To the Girl Scout Troops: I hope that you all were inspired by my message, "Small Acts of Kindness Can Make a Big Difference."  Let your Messenger Doll serve as a reminder of this message.

The Butterfly Effect

Inspiration comes from the different things around us. One idea that fascinates me is the "butterfly effect". The "butterfly effect"is a theory that describes how small, simple changes to an completely unrelated thing can eventually affect large, complex system. After reading more about this theory, I began to relate it  to the way I want to live my life and why I do the things I do. Believing that one flap of a butterfly's wings in South America can cause a huge hurricane in Texas is miraculous. I want to create miracles and influence the people around me to continue the web of inspiration and happiness.

One laugh leads to good times. One clap leads to inspiration.  One helping hand leads to friendship. One kiss leads to love. One smile leads to happiness.

AND one small act of kindness leads to peace...  

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Great news! Last week I won a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) and was able to attend the three day RYLA conference. High school students from all over San Diego county attended the conference. I met many amazing people and had the opportunity to hear life-changing and inspiring stories from interesting speakers. 

One message that really stood out to me was "It doesn't matter what happens to you, it matters how you react to it." I began to reflect on the past couple of months and how I have I reacted to certain issues. I was somewhat disappointed in myself. Yes, I've been speaking to kids on how they can help their community. Yes, I've been helping kids in South Africa. I am so grateful for all the support and recognition I've gotten, but I still feel like I haven't done enough. Insane, right? Not so much... 

This conference has encouraged me to expand my project and reach out to more people. I think I've done some good things for others,  but I'm sure I can do so much more. I was given this opportunity to influence people and I plan to take advantage of it. RYLA has taught me to be myself, be a leader, be an inspiration, be a motivator, be an advocate, and be the change I want to see in the world!  

Hanging with Troop 5466

I am often surprised at how willing most people are to help with my project. It's not that I don't think people don't care about different issues in the world, but rather that they are just not informed on the ways they can help. My presentations with Girl Scouts have been amazing. All the girls are so eager to help and are happy to be assisting me in reaching out and telling my message to others. Troop 5466 is one of the many wonderful troops that have helped me to slowly reach my goal. 

Some of the best listeners I know... 

Gabi working hard on her doll! 

Session 2: Reminding the girls of my message and thinking of ways they can help their community. 

GROUP SHOT! What beautiful people...

One Troop at a Time

I've been spreading the message, "Small acts of kindness can make a big difference...", to one Girl Scout troop at a time. My goal is to share this message with 1,000 kids before I graduate in June, 2013.


To be honest, I wasn't quite sure how I would accomplish this goal but fortunately, word has spread of my project and now I'm presenting to Girl Scout troops all over San Diego. I've found the girls to be the perfect audience. Most of the time the Scouts have had experience with some type of service project. My presentation serves as a reminder of their purpose. I hope that after listening to my personal story and creating their own special Messenger Dolls, they continue to do good deeds- big or small.

Showing the kids where Cape Town is on the map.

Working together to make the Messenger Dolls.

One of the girls, Aliana.

Message in mind, buddies in hand.

Reading her message from one of the orphans in HOKISA.

Thank you Troop 5567!

Spreading the Message

"A small act of kindness can make a huge difference."  This is the message that I want to share.  I know these words are true because I have experienced them first-hand.  When I tell people that I fundraise for an orphanage in Africa, they automatically assume that what I do must be enormous and overwhelming. This isn't the case, I keep things simple and I stay focused.   

These are MY small acts of kindness: 1) I talk. - I use any opportunity I can to talk about the orphanage, HOKISA (HOme for Kids In South Africa), and share my experiences.  2) I ask. - When it's appropriate, I ask individuals to help.  Many times I don't have to ask.  On the contrary, many times people ask me how they can help.  I ask them to donate funds or volunteer their time to help with my Messenger Doll Project or our annual fundraiser.  3) I create. - I love art and am easily inspired.  I love to create things out of ordinary objects.  I share my growing creativity and message through my Messenger Doll Project.  4) I have faith. - I don't get frustrated when the going gets tough.  It's not always easy to get people to understand your motivation for the things that you do.  I don't get upset when someone doesn't want to help out, instead, I hope they find their own passions.  I continue to do what I do because I have faith that what I'm doing, makes a difference in the lives of the HOKISA children.

Lately, I've been invited to share my Messenger Doll Project with different Girl Scout Troops.  I enjoy sharing my stories with these elementary-aged girls. I explain to them what my project is, who it benefits, and how they can make a difference. To me, these girls are inspiring. At such a young age they are already working toward helping their local communities, the environment and places all over the world. This year my goal is to tell my story to 1,000 girls.  Periodically, I'll blog about my interactions with the Girl Scout troops and hope you follow along to read about them.    

The Reason Why

When people ask me why I continue to fundraise for the children at the HOKISA orphanage, it's easy for me to answer.  I instantly remember the kids' smiling faces, laughs and a genuine appreciation to be alive.  These kids own little but run around as if they are the riches kids on earth.  I have learned a lot from them, most importantly, to live life simply.  Happiness doesn't cost much.  I feel that many of us take for granted the opportunities that we have.  I have reflected on my own life and realize how lucky I am.  I was able to notice my fortunes because of the experiences I've had with HOKISA.  The children have made a lasting impression on my heart.  I want to continue to assist them financially because I've grown to care for each of the children and cherish the memories that we share.

Hanging out at Noordhoek Farm with Panana, Lebo and Fundiswa.

Miracles

My Messenger Dolls Project has grown to become much more than I could have ever imagined. I have always been outgoing and concerned about what's happening in the world, but I never thought I would be recognized and awarded for my actions. In the spring of last year, I was nominated for the Cox Conserves Hero Award. This award went to individuals who improved their community by helping the environment and creating awareness about environmental struggles. I was interviewed, publicized on television and voted by the public to receive a $10,000 grant, in which I chose to benefit the Chula Vista Nature Center (who had recently lost funding). As a result, my project exploded into the public and everyone started to hear about my award and my project. I was on the front cover of our district newspaper, awarded Inspirational Student of the Month and was recognized by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for my good deeds. My passion for helping people sparked miracles, that toppled over like dominoes, one after the other, helping to spread kindness through my Messenger Dolls.

Thus The Title

One year my mother brought home a decorated bottle, fashioned to look like an african woman. She received it as a gift for a donation she made to a non-profit group called Tias Arms. At that time, we already had our first fundraising banquet to benefit the HOKISA orphanage. I wanted to do more for HOKISA. The "doll" my mother brought home that day inspired me and I ended up creating one of my own. I asked for donations of materials, such as bottles (for the body), old clothes and remnant fabric (for the clothes and headdress), beads (for the jewelry) and recyclable bottles/cans (revenues used to purchase foam heads and glue). Many friends were willing to help. I created around 50 dolls for our next fundraising event. Each of the dolls carried a bag that held a special message from one of the HOKISA children. Thus the name, "The Messenger Doll Project". 

The Story

Six years ago, I started this incredible journey. I remember everything like it was yesterday. My mother and I traveled to South Africa  for the first time to visit some friends. When we stepped off the plane at about 8:45 p.m., after 30 hours of traveling, we (for some bizarre reason) decided to read the local newspaper. On that day, we read about a man named Cecil Bosman, who at the time, was cycling through every country in Africa to raise awareness about a small orphanage, Home for Kids In South Africa (HOKISA). HOKISA is an orphanage that cares for kids that are affected by HIV and AIDS. This home houses 20 children, ranging from new-borns to 18 year olds, provides them with a highly nutritious diet, supplies them with medicine, and encourages them to go to school. After our fun filled vacation, when we returned home, my mother and I chose to help Cecil and fundraise for this life-saving home. Our first fundraiser was a dinner with friends and family at a local restaurant in Chula Vista. That year, surprisingly, we raised a little over $5,000 dollars. Now, after 6 years, the story still continues...

HOKISA is located in a township outside of Fish Hoek called Masiphumelele.

Day#1: Just the Beginning

This blog shares the journey of a young girl who loves to travel the world. She is not famous, nor known for doing anything in particular. She is just a girl willing to help those in need. That girl happens to be me! My name is Dakotah and I am sixteen years old. This is my very first blog post and I am so excited to be sharing my story with others. I'm craving something out of life but I'm not sure what that is. I know I could grow to be many different things. I'm searching for my place in the world. In spite of this uncertainty, one thing I know for sure is this: I have found great satisfaction in helping people- I want to inspire others to make positive changes in the world. I have found that even small efforts can impact the lives of others. I've seen it with my own eyes. This blog will include diaries of my travels and my ideas about helping people. Maybe you'll become inspired and will have your own crazy journeys. This is just the beginning...