Young social entrepreneurs take action

Chaz Silva
April 15, 2009
Filed under News

‘Iolani social entrepreneurs step out of their comfortable classroom to transform their words and ideas and take action by volunteering for two non-profit organizations in Honolulu.

Students from Ms. Kimi Frith’s Economics and Social Entrepreneurship classes visited Shriner’s Hospitals and Ronald McDonald House in early February and offered help and donations.

Shriner’s Hospitals for Children in Hawaii has helped more than 26,000 children. The Honolulu location specifically cares for children who need orthopedic or specialty pediatric care.

“The kids come from all over the pacific islands,” said Stan Berry, the executive director at Shriner’s Hawaii. “Doctors travel all over (India, Sri Lanka, Samoa, etc.) to find children that need help.”

Shriner’s Hospitals are universal and help children all over the world free of charge.

Students took a tour of Shriner’s in Honolulu and were able to put together welcome packages for the new children entering the hospital.

The young social entrepreneurs donated supplies such as books, crayons, and toys for the care packages and assembled them together with excitement.

“It brings a smile to my face to see these kids smiling,” Rachelle Nilo, a senior at ‘Iolani, said. “You can tell how much they appreciate it.”

“Actually stepping into the hospital was much more inspiring than just hearing about or watching a video in class,” senior Megan Jackson said.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii is another organization that works closely with Shriner’s Hospitals by offering families a home to stay in while the child is undergoing treatment at the hospital.
The students visited the home in Manoa and brought much needed supplies that were donated through the student organized “McDrive.”

The classes collected paper towels, toilet paper, Zip-Loc bags, saimin, and snacks. To advertise the drive the students made posters, designed flyers, and spread the word to their classmates.

Michael Ahakuelo, volunteer coordinator for Ronald McDonald Hawaii, assisted the class with their activities that day.

Some students baked, some cleaned, and others did arts and crafts with the kids.

“It’s impressive to see what these kids can do despite their struggles,” Nilo said. The experience was so inspiring for her that Nilo already put in an application to become a regular volunteer.

“The kids appreciate it so much, and we do to,” Ahakuelo said.

The entrepreneurs are always looking for new ways to help the community. One of their upcoming projects is a book and supply drive for a new school in Cambodia.