Meet Mari Sroda, the moderator of the CARITAS Club at Milton High School, just under an hour south of Madison, Wisconsin. Mari works as an at-risk learning support teacher, and runs a peer tutoring/mentoring program at Milton High School, as well as advising several student run clubs.

She first became involved with CARITAS For Children when her son, Scott, served as the Field Coordinator for Africa. “He told such amazing, positive and inspirational stories about the organization and the joy of the children who had been chosen to receive a sponsor.” The stories led Mari and her husband to sponsor their own child at Stella Maris Primary Boarding School, Veronica Butono, through CARITAS For Children’s child sponsorship programs.

Members of the CARITAS Club at Milton High School raising money through a bake sale to support Allen Grace's education.

“It brought so much happiness into our family knowing we were able to send her to school. My husband and I are both public educators so we know the value of an education. Our own children have been so blessed to grow up here where they receive an education just as a part of being born in this country. It feels good to give back,” Mari says of the experience.

The joy sponsoring Butono brought her family spread outwards into the school as she shared pictures with her students, who became more and more interested in the poverty and lack of educational opportunities for children in East Africa. It was her students who came to her, expressing interest in sponsoring a child. But how? A boarding school sponsorship at Stella Maris Secondary School would be a big undertaking for a small group of high school students.

Growing teens are always hungry, right?

Mari’s students refused to give up on their idea to sponsor a child, so she opened up the club to the whole school, and about 50 students showed up to express their support and interest in helping. “We found creative ways to raise funds such as bake sales, snack bag sales, and even made various crafts and jewelry to sell to raise money to pay for school fees.”

While her son, Scott, was still working in Uganda he met Allen Grace Namusabi who now attends Stella Maris Secondary Boarding School thanks to the help of her friends in the CARITAS Club at Milton High School. “She brings joy to all of us,” Mari says. “We exchange letters, Skype and learn about each other's cultures. It has broadened our perspective and made us appreciate our own opportunities tremendously.”

Allen Grace

The CARITAS Club’s future goals are to continue to raise funds to pay for Allen Grace’s education beyond high school so that she can become a Certified Nursing Assistant. When asked what means the most to her about working with the CARITAS Club, Mari cites the joy she sees in her students as they reach out with love to help someone who is half the world away. For CARITAS For Children, it is particularly inspiring to see teens getting together to make a difference. Caritas means “love” and the students at Milton High School are living that message through their involvement in child sponsorship by giving hope to children in need.

“I think young people are looking for ways to change the world and to be of service to others, but just need the opportunity. They have been so energetic, creative, and thoughtful in their fundraising efforts. This club has changed all of us and every day we feel uplifted knowing we are giving to someone else who is in need. She [Allen Grace] is so grateful and is a blessing in all our lives.”

A gift of friendship

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