Kid Power: An American Teenager Helps Those in Need in Argentina

Below is a story about an American teenager who visited Argentina and learned about the value in helping others. At the end are some suggestions for how students and/or families can help the needy Jewish community in Argentina.

Naomi is 15 years old, from Teaneck, NJ, and is a student at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School in Bergen County, NJ. Last spring, she had an incredible opportunity - to accompany a group of professionals at JDC (along with her mother, who works at JDC) on a 5-day mission to Buenos Aires, Argentina. One of the main goals of the mission was to get a deeper understanding of the far reaching effects of the economic crisis on the Argentine Jewish community, in order to properly convey the situation to Jewish communities in the U.S. who want to show their support.

Naomi felt very fortunate to join this group. She and her mom discussed how to make this trip as meaningful as possible, and to think about what she could do even before departure. Naomi contacted Will, the JDC desk director for Latin America, to learn about some specific needs among kids in the Jewish schools. After their conversation, Naomi knew what she wanted to do - lend a hand to those kids whose parents can't afford basic school supplies.

By spreading the word around her school, and posting her "campaign" on a web site which links all the synagogues in her community, Naomi began to receive donations varying from $1 to $100. In less than one month, she raised $1500 for her project. Naomi was most impressed by the fact that many people responded to her call for help, most who didn't even know her!

During the mission, Naomi went to a market with a staff member of the JDC - Buenos Aires office. They used all the money she had raised from her project to purchase various school supplies that all kids need - but many just couldn't afford. Before she left the States, Naomi had no idea what the amount she raised could do. Imagine her surprise when she was told that they had enough supplies to distribute to kids who needed them - at TEN Jewish schools!

Naomi said that on this trip, she not only learned an incredible amount about the present situation of the Argentine Jewish community, but also got a real life lesson about the concept of areyvut-responsibility that every Jew has towards the larger community.

Her advice for other kids who want to do a similar project is: Don't get discouraged. Even if you think the results of your efforts are small - keep trying! You never know what the end result will be (she never thought she could help kids from 10 schools!).

For more information on Argentina please click here.

For more ideas on a mitzvah project in Argentina:

1. Many kids are approaching Bar and Bat Mitzvah age, and their parents are lacking the basic funds to help them prepare properly. JDC has helped the community develop a "B'nai Mitzvah" program. For $400, a child is provided with lessons, a chumash, siddur, a new outfit for the special day, and a kiddush.
2. JDC has helped introduce "Meitiv" into the Jewish schools; a daily hot lunch program for kids who are below the poverty line. $70 covers the costs for 1 month worth of lunches, per child.
3. The community is struggling to keep all of its activities and infrastructure intact. Jewish Day Camp is a wonderful opportunity for a child, but out of reach of many families. $100 will cover a one-week scholarship for a child.