While searching for an organization to support for her mitzvah project, Sarina read a story that really affected her. It was about a ten-year old child who had only one outfit to wear and ate one meal a day. She knew then that her project would focus on children.

Daughter of Hannah and Tzion Dayan of Kirkwood, Sarina loves children and believes they should have the same opportunities as she has. That is why she chose the ChildFund international organization to support. “I love working with kids and I thought that would be a good way to help them,” she said.

ChildFund International’s mission is to help deprived, excluded and vulnerable children living in poverty have the capacity to become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change to their communities.

To sponsor a child, Sarina chose South Africa from the ChildFund website, www.childfund.org. She was “given” a little girl with whom she could write to. “Well, I thought instead of changing one kid’s life, what if I change 5 or 6? So, instead, I decided to donate money,” Sarina said.

“I started collecting the money about a month before my bat mitzvah and then a month after my bat mitzvah. The way I collected the money was by doing chores and I also donated some of my bat mitzvah money. In total, I collected $100 for the organization.”

A student at North Kirkwood Middle School, Sarina realizes how fortunate she is. “After I sent the check to ChildFund.org, I felt great and it really made me happy because I realized I had just changed kids’ lives,” she said. “And, that’s a pretty good feeling knowing that kids have clothes and water and can get an education because of me.”