Children will be those who will change the world they say, and they couldn’t be more right. Children, though young and immature, can feel, even without fully understanding, everything that is going on around them, more than we can even imagine.
They can sense when injustices happen and can tell when something is wrong, even when they don’t know what that is exactly. That’s why it is important to not hide the truth from them, and, instead, talk to them about what is going on around them.
“The older the child, the greater the need for fully honest disclosure and guidance that will help the child integrate and set their own value system,” experts say.
When riots started in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s death while he was in custody, a couple who lives close by felt the need to let their daughter know what the situation was instead of having her live in her little bubble.
And 9-year-old Kamryn Johnson started looking for a way to help.
It is common knowledge that small businesses everywhere around the country- and even around the world- have been hit hard over the last couple of months by the coronavirus pandemic. On top of that, protests that involved damage and looting also caused extra problems to small business owners.
So, Kamryn thought that, being a kid, there was not much she could do, but at least she could try.
“At the same time our 9yr old daughter and her friends had an idea. They wanted to make and sell friendship bracelets and lemonade. They wanted to unite our community and serve others,” former NFL player Ron Johnson, Kamryn’s dad says.
So the little girl, along with her friends, started making bracelets that they would then sell to neighbors. And that’s how “Kamryn & Friends: Bracelets for Unity and Justice” was born.
Since May 30th the little children-run enterprise has raised about $100,000 for local families in need and they are still going.
At the same time, a GoFundMe has been created in order to raise as much money as possible in order to buy food and supplies for local food banks, and to support and help rebuild the businesses affected by the riots.
“She has a huge heart and simply wanted to be of help in whatever way she could,” Johnson told CNN. “She and her friends are finding ways to feed the families of Minneapolis and give back to their community in the way they know how.”
At first, when the children came up with the idea, they admit they just expected to make maybe $50 for their cause, given that the price was $5 per bracelet. Yet, people started paying $20, $50, or even $100 just to help them in their inspiring mission.
“We want to stay in the fight. We don’t plan on giving a bit and then walking away and going about our day. We’re fighting for our community and it’s not going to end any time soon. This is a fight for racial equality and an end to police brutality. It’s something we still need to talk about,” Johnson concluded.
So far they have raised more than $49k online and donations are still coming in regularly.
It is really inspiring to see young children attempting to help their communities, and we should all learn a lesson from them.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
