BEVERLY — Beverly High School alumna Emily Walk has a passion for helping people.
This December, she'll be in Africa building a medical clinic for an orphanage with children who lost their parents to AIDS. A 2007 graduate of Beverly High, she attends the College of Charleston in South Carolina, where she is vice president of Project Harambee, a group that focuses on service learning in Kenya.
She and about 20 other students are raising a minimum of $3,000 each for the trip. It includes airfare and building supplies for the medical clinic.
"Our organization began constructing a medical clinic in Mbitini last December and will be completing it this year," she said.
So what exactly will you be doing?
"This year, we're going to continue the construction, and if we have adequate funds, we'll be deepening the wells for their water supply."
How did you get involved?
"Last year, I saw them (Project Harambee) on campus doing a fundraiser, and it was exactly what I wanted to get involved with. I really enjoy doing service. My passion in life is helping others."
What made you realize that?
"I started it when I was going on a trip to Israel the summer before my senior year, through the Robert I. Lappin Jewish youth program. That was just visiting, but instead of paying for the trip, you do some classes and community service before you go."
What kind of things did you do?
"Beverly Bootstraps, volunteering for Beverly School for the Deaf, soup kitchens, those kinds of things. While at Beverly High School, I was mainly involved with theater and music, and I really got into community service in college.
It sounds like you keep pretty busy in college.
"I have at least one service thing every weekend that I'm involved in."
What do you think it will be like in Kenya?
"From what I've heard, it's going to be really emotional, because you get really attached to the children. But I'm excited to know I'm making a difference in other people's lives."
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To donate, make a check out to Think About the Children, the parent organization of Project Harambee, and mail it to Emily Walk at 2115 COFE Complex, Charleston, SC 29424.
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