Amanda Kuderer is a student at Northern Kentucky University who happens to have a passion for Mamelodi, South Africa. This coupled with her nearly complete elementary education degree has resulted in the formation of Inspire Mamelodi.
Learn more about this amazing young woman and how she plans to Do Good in the world in the impassioned letter from Amanda.
Dear Friends,
I hope all is well with you and your family. I want to share with you a little bit about my life and a passion I feel for Mamelodi, South Africa. I am currently heading into my final semester at Northern Kentucky University. This is very exciting for many reasons. Not only can I see the end, but I will be student teaching, and full time in a local classroom. Over the next sixteen weeks I will be teaching second grade at Loveland Primary, as well as Special Education, at Mariemont High School. I am ready for this chapter of my education, while still anxious about what I will encounter.
As many of you know, over the past several years, I have also traveled to Mamelodi, South Africa. These three trips have continually opened my eyes and heart for God’s call to love those in need. While sitting in a second grade classroom at Bophelong School, in Mamelodi last summer, I watched children sharing pencils and school supplies. These children were falling behind in their studies and struggled to get caught up with their work, simply because of a lack of school materials. At this moment, I thought to myself, “What would happen if these students had the proper school supplies for an entire year?” I knew something had to be done and I felt the call to get involved at Bophelong School. Over the course of several months, this call shaped into a project named Inspire Mamelodi.
So what is Inspire Mamelodi?…. Inspire Mamelodi is comprised of three aspects. The first portion is Backpacks for Bophelong. This initiative connects Greater Cincinnati schools to Bophelong School, while providing a backpack filled with essential school materials for all children at Bophelong. Students will develop relationships over seas and learn from each other through pen pal relationships. The goal is not only to provide school supplies for students at Bophelong, but also build relationships and make connections around the world.
The next two pieces to Inspire Mamelodi will take place in January. Upon graduation, I will travel back to South Africa and work with Bophelong School in Mamelodi for approximately one year. As of right now, I will be co-teaching with an elementary teacher, to build into the children and learn from each other. After school I will also team with local volunteers to provide after school programs, involving tutoring and educational activities. Not only will children from Bophelong come to participate in after school activities, but also orphans from around Mamelodi, who do not have the support system at home to help them with schoolwork.
Inspire Mamelodi is a call that I have felt on my life, but it is the community that has stepped in along side this project thus far. Not only have local schools and teachers supported Backpacks for Bophelong, but people like yourself have stepped up to provide a powerful prayer backing, as well as financial support. I want to take this moment to ask you to keep myself and Inspire Mamelodi in your prayers. I believe that God answers prayers and I am asking you to pray for safety, good health, strong community support through Backpacks for Bophelong, and financial support.
Beyond your prayers, I would also ask you to join in along side me and support financially. During my time in Mamelodi I will not have a salary from the school. This is fully a volunteer initiative. It will be the generosity of the church and community that will aid in the success of Inspire Mamelodi. I have included a form that explains the process for giving, if you choose to do so.
During my preparation and stay in Mamelodi, I plan to keep friends and family updated through the Inspire Mamelodi website. Please check this out at: http://www.inspiremamelodi.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your continual support,
Amanda Kuderer
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Follow the Inspire Mamelodi blog
Hospice of Cincinnati is organizing the 3rd annual fundraising concert for the Bophelong Hospice in Mamelodi, South Africa and Beaded Hope is excited, once again, to be a part of this great event.