A Virginia student has ‘thanked’ America after seeing young criminals in dire situations
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A young American student felt inspired to step out of her comfort zone and help others in life – and ended up learning about harsh punishments in other countries and seeing the United States one day.
Tess Emanuel, a high school senior, spent two summers traveling to Kenya and volunteering there.
“I grew up being told that I should do things to help others and serve others,” the young man from McLean, Virginia, told Fox News Digital.
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After doing her research, she found Better Me, a non-profit organization that focuses on education, training and life skills for children and youth in remote areas trying to turn their lives around. Signing up as a volunteer, he embarked on a mission to Kenya over two separate summers.
Working with Kisumu Children’s Remand Home, a rehabilitation center in Kisumu, he and other volunteers taught lessons to children of all ages.
Tess Emanuel of McLean, Virginia, volunteered for two summers with a non-profit organization created to help disadvantaged children. (Tess Emanuel)
“I worked with children serving sentences for their crimes or awaiting trial,” he said.
“I was very scared at first because I felt that I would be working with criminals and I didn’t know what to expect.
Emanuel said he worked with young people facing theft and robbery charges – but he learned the larger context of the crimes they committed and the difficult circumstances they lived in.
They kept stealing food and resources to survive.
Emanuel said he “worked with children who were serving sentences for their crimes or awaiting trial,” he said. Many children were stealing food to survive. (Tess Emanuel)
“After speaking to them several times, I quickly learned that it was the fault of the system and the government they were under – rather than slander. [the children’s] half,” he said, laying out his thoughts.
“I learned how important it is to listen to others and not let certain judgments or categories define how you see someone,” she said.
Volunteering can “create positive change for us, others and the world.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Better Me for comment.
On its website, the organization says the “transformational power of volunteers” can “create positive change in ourselves, others and the world.”
“I always understood that not everyone has that right, so I was researching organizations that will work with children in Africa … I have always been curious about Africa,” said the lady from Virginia. (Tess Emanuel)
It also says that “its volunteer program is designed for open-minded people who are willing to expand their knowledge, challenge common misconceptions and gain valuable knowledge, skills and real-world experience.”
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Emanuel said the volunteers will work there three or four times a week, teaching the children English lessons as well as life skills.
“You can talk about hygiene, public speaking, ethics, religious studies. It was really fun to plan your own lessons and teach yourself whatever you know best,” he said.
The volunteers also spent time at the Korando school, which is home to 200 students, including about 90 orphans.
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“[Students would] most of the time you are just outside playing, you can play games with them,” he said.
“You can read to them, which I really liked. You can also do swimming lessons with the kids.”
He said the thing the students liked the most was swimming.
“I learned how important it is to listen to others and not let certain judgments or categories define how you look at a person,” said Emanuel. (Tess Emanuel)
Volunteers will have dinner together – and on Wednesday, enjoy a karaoke night. On weekends, volunteers went on safaris or explored nearby towns.
Emanuel noted the change back to the United States taught him new knowledge every summer.
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He felt blessed and lucky with his family, his school, his friends and the resources he took for granted, he said.
“I have always been a very grateful person, and I understand that I have a good life and not everyone has that, but I did not see the level that other people have to live in those conditions,” said Emanuel.
Returning to the United States taught him great lessons.
