Have you ever learned about an event or organization and wanted to automatically do something to get involved or take a stand against it? Abby Coakley did just this.
When Coakley was in the eighth grade, Invisible Children did a presentation at her school. Invisible Children is an organization that works to raise awareness about the LRA and Kony in Africa. The LRA is the Lord’s Resistance Army and its leader is Kony, who forces children to become soldiers. This sparked her interest in the many conflicts involving children in Africa. She began doing research and became fascinated with Uganda and the multitude of orphans there.
Once she decided to go, the next step was to raise funds. Coakley began coming up with all sorts of creative ideas. She sent begging letters, sold jewelry, and held a benefit concert at a local non-profit coffee shop, “The Well”. The Well is located in her hometown, Nashville, TN, and donates 100% of its profits to building wells in countries that don’t have safe drinking water. “I thought it would be a really great idea to support other non-profits as well. So, I asked all of my musically talented friends to perform and sold handmade African jewelry and baked goods,” beamed Coakley. Sitting in her room with candles burning and background music playing from her record player with a smile bigger than I’ve ever seen before, she excitedly told me more.
“The organization I went with is called ‘Visiting Orphans’ and is located in Nashville. They are a nonprofit that hosts short term mission trips to nine countries.” She went on to tell me more and more about the organization she has clearly grown to love. She explained that they coordinate everything from flights to food for her; she just raises the funds and hands them over. Then comes the fun part.
Abby loves spending time with the children there. She explains about how despite their unfortunate situations, they are happy and excited to be alive. When asked about the hard aspects of spending weeks in Africa, Coakley responded
“Besides not having hot showers or safe drinking water, the hardest part is when you’re done with one orphanage to go on to the next one and leaving the country in general. You grow so close to the people you meet and you make these connections with these kids and to have to say goodbye, I think is the hardest part.”
However it is much harder returning home for Coakley. She explained that it is like “reverse culture shock” because of how she was just living. “It’s hard to take in the blessings you have because of what you’ve just seen,” explained Coakley with the first somber face she’s had since the interview began. She feels guilt upon returning home, and even recalls multiple instances where she cried because she realized how fortunate she is.
Coakley has another, much longer trip in the works for the summer of 2014. A friend she has made from these mission trips is moving to Uganda and will have her own apartment. Coakley is excited to go and stay with her friend because it will allow her to travel when and where she wants, returning to the places she loves the most. She is also continuing to do what she can from home. Huduma is a club she started at Spring Hill College. Its goal is to raise awareness about what is happening in Africa and to do anything they can. She is starting a pen-pal program, selling t-shirts and handmade jewelry, and has even inspired some peers to go to Uganda as well. “After hearing about her first trip and sitting in on a Huduma meeting, I was really intrigued. Africa stayed on my mind for a while, and I just decided I was going to go,” said Lillian Loys, another student at Spring Hill College. Loys remembered being in Africa with Coakley and being so thankful that she got the opportunity to go as well.
When Coakley was in the eighth grade, Invisible Children did a presentation at her school. Invisible Children is an organization that works to raise awareness about the LRA and Kony in Africa. The LRA is the Lord’s Resistance Army and its leader is Kony, who forces children to become soldiers. This sparked her interest in the many conflicts involving children in Africa. She began doing research and became fascinated with Uganda and the multitude of orphans there.
Once she decided to go, the next step was to raise funds. Coakley began coming up with all sorts of creative ideas. She sent begging letters, sold jewelry, and held a benefit concert at a local non-profit coffee shop, “The Well”. The Well is located in her hometown, Nashville, TN, and donates 100% of its profits to building wells in countries that don’t have safe drinking water. “I thought it would be a really great idea to support other non-profits as well. So, I asked all of my musically talented friends to perform and sold handmade African jewelry and baked goods,” beamed Coakley. Sitting in her room with candles burning and background music playing from her record player with a smile bigger than I’ve ever seen before, she excitedly told me more.
“The organization I went with is called ‘Visiting Orphans’ and is located in Nashville. They are a nonprofit that hosts short term mission trips to nine countries.” She went on to tell me more and more about the organization she has clearly grown to love. She explained that they coordinate everything from flights to food for her; she just raises the funds and hands them over. Then comes the fun part.
Abby loves spending time with the children there. She explains about how despite their unfortunate situations, they are happy and excited to be alive. When asked about the hard aspects of spending weeks in Africa, Coakley responded
“Besides not having hot showers or safe drinking water, the hardest part is when you’re done with one orphanage to go on to the next one and leaving the country in general. You grow so close to the people you meet and you make these connections with these kids and to have to say goodbye, I think is the hardest part.”
However it is much harder returning home for Coakley. She explained that it is like “reverse culture shock” because of how she was just living. “It’s hard to take in the blessings you have because of what you’ve just seen,” explained Coakley with the first somber face she’s had since the interview began. She feels guilt upon returning home, and even recalls multiple instances where she cried because she realized how fortunate she is.
Coakley has another, much longer trip in the works for the summer of 2014. A friend she has made from these mission trips is moving to Uganda and will have her own apartment. Coakley is excited to go and stay with her friend because it will allow her to travel when and where she wants, returning to the places she loves the most. She is also continuing to do what she can from home. Huduma is a club she started at Spring Hill College. Its goal is to raise awareness about what is happening in Africa and to do anything they can. She is starting a pen-pal program, selling t-shirts and handmade jewelry, and has even inspired some peers to go to Uganda as well. “After hearing about her first trip and sitting in on a Huduma meeting, I was really intrigued. Africa stayed on my mind for a while, and I just decided I was going to go,” said Lillian Loys, another student at Spring Hill College. Loys remembered being in Africa with Coakley and being so thankful that she got the opportunity to go as well.