State Honoree

Nimo Sahil, 16, of Kansas City, Missouri, an eighth-grader at Maple Park Middle School, has raised hundreds of dollars a month over the past four years to pay for food, clothing, tuition, and school supplies for 13 desperate children in Somalia. Nimo began her fund-raising after a family friend in Somalia sent word that three children there had lost their parents and had no money. "Then my father found out about 10 more children that needed our help," explained Nimo. "As soon as I found out, I started raising money so they would have food and could attend school." Each month, Nimo sends her allowance money to Somalia, and asks friends and family members for donations. Her parents helped out at first, but no longer can because they do not have jobs, she said. Nimo also has collected donations at her school, and sold traditional African food to supplement the monthly payments she sends to the Somalian children. "If I stop sending money, the children will be kicked out of school and will not have money for food," said Nimo. "Some other children from the same village starved to death, so it is important for me to continue my project."