Kelly McClintock

Kelly McClintock grew up in Essex Junction. After high school Kelly went to UVM with a full scholarship to play field hockey. She is now currently a gym teacher at Thomas Fleming. Kelly has been volunteering for some time now and every two or so years, she travels to go do volunteer work in the summer.

Two summers ago Kelly went to Ghana and volunteered at a school. Her motivation to go was she wanted to help other people that were less fortunate and have a chance to see what other people experience. Another reason she went was she wanted to travel the world and see different cultures.

Last year she got much more involved when she traveled to Tanzania to volunteer at an orphanage. She volunteered with someone from New York at the orphanage. While there they helped cook and feed the kids and do the laundry. They also taught them English and math, arts and crafts, and new games. Kelly also started a basketball program there. While in Tanzania, she got connections with the person running the orphanage and got involved with an organization called Neema International. Neema's mission is to provide orphans in East Africa a chance to get an education and raise money to build orphanages. They are currently building an orphanage in Rua, Tanzania.

"Volunteering has its up and downs," Kelly says. One thing that Kelly said was difficult was seeing the teachers hit kids because she wasn't allowed to stop them. She had to accept this practice was part of their culture.The organization she is with is trying to educate the teachers on other ways to get the kids to follow direction instead of hitting them. The process is slow because they can't go there and tell them to change, they have to show respect because they are foreigners. Also Kelly said while down in Tanzania you don't have the resources to help the kids out as much as you want to. The most frustrating part for her is when she comes home she sees people complaining about not having this or that, but the kids in Africa never complain and they have nothing. Some of her highlights and most rewarding parts while volunteering are seeing how happy the kids can be even though they have nothing.The most rewarding part to for her is making them smile and laugh.

Kellys goal is to make a difference in as many kids' lives. She uses the quote, "Be the change you want to see in the world." She is currently planning another trip to Africa this summer and right now is working with whole school of Thomas Fleming to raise money for a boy in Africa named Elisha.