Our Kites: Turning Sadness and Frustration into Action
by Anera
Posted in:Â Fundraisers, peopleofanera
By Audrey and Akshita
Fundraising for Anera helped us turn feelings of sadness and frustration into action, and it reminded us that change often starts with small steps. This experience showed us that even as high school students, we can still create meaningful impact.
We are both passionate about learning about the world and working to make it a better place. Audrey is very interested in international affairs and participates in Model UN. Akshita is passionate about giving back to the community and participates in Speech and Debate and UNICEF student clubs.
Using Social Media to Make a Difference
Through social media, we began to see a lot of content showing people’s experiences with the destruction and displacement in Gaza. After watching inhumane events and suffering unfold from behind a screen, we didn’t want to just scroll past it. We wanted to act. At the same time, we saw our peers spending a lot of time online and spending a lot of money to keep up with online trends. We wondered if we could help inspire them to direct some of that same money toward far more meaningful and impactful causes, such as aid for Gaza.
We chose to support Anera after learning about the organization through their website and Instagram. We especially liked how it is a credible and locally supported nonprofit.
We decided to fundraise using the platform where we first learned about Gaza and use it to turn negativity and awareness into action, especially among other teenagers. We started an Instagram page called @ourkites, built on a simple truth: one small act of kindness can create a ripple effect. As two high school students, we know that alone we may not have that much of an impact, but with the support of others we can help tie strings between continents and support someone’s life. We focused on creating videos and posts that reminded our peers that even if we are young we have the power to make an impact – every dollar can make a difference. Even $5, the cost of a coffee or an energy drink, can help provide a family with a meal, clean drinking water or critical medical care.
A Supportive Response
We also talked about our fundraiser at school and promoted it through a holiday clothing drive. We asked people to donate clothes, which were then sent to a local thrift store which weighed the donations and contributed a set amount of money per pound to our fundraiser. During the clothing drive, we spoke with many community members who were bringing in donations and received a lot of appreciation for our initiative!
Overall, we had a great experience fundraising. It’s very heartwarming to see people take a moment to donate to a greater cause. The reaction has been very supportive and encouraging. Our families and close friends were proud of us for taking initiative and trying to make a difference, especially at our age. Many people were genuinely interested in learning more about Anera and the situation in Gaza, and some shared our fundraiser with others after donating. Even when people couldn’t donate, they would support us by following our account on Instagram, reposting and sharing. This really boosted our confidence to continue what we are doing!
Reminding Young People of Our Power
To others who are thinking of creating a fundraiser, especially other teenagers, we would say: don’t be intimidated. Remember that asking for support never forces someone to give, it only opens up an opportunity that wasn’t there before. A peer-to-peer fundraiser is about giving people the chance to help if they are able. Even if some people say no, there will always be others who are willing to support you. Our campaign isn’t just about donations. It is also about spreading awareness of the situation and reminding other young people that we can choose to use our money in a way that brings us together as a community to truly make a difference in the world. Our spending decisions hold power, and every small donation we can make adds up.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to support such an impactful organization and hope more young people feel empowered to do the same.
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