And How Are The Children?

Kimberly Harrington speech at the Back Bush Children Education Association Dinner and Dance fundraiser to raise money to build school in Liberia, West Africa. Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Speech transcript highlights:

In Kenya, there is an ethnic group called the Maasi Tribe. They are known as fierce warriors and skilled herdsmen.

But they are also known for a particular greeting that they have. Each morning, the elders of the tribe greet each other with the saying, “Casserian Engeri,” which means “AND HOW ARE THE CHILDREN?”

“And how are the children?”

Think about that for second. The first thing on their minds in the morning is the welfare of the

next generation; the wellbeing of their tribe’s, - their country’s - future leaders.

Image if we all did that. If our concern at the top of every day, were the children, not just in our own families, which is a great start, but the children of our neighborhoods, of our counties, of

our state, our nation and the world. Those being groomed by someone – if not you – who are next in line to rule the world.

In my hometown, the children weren’t doing so well. At that time, 54 percent of the high school students were reading below grade level, so that meant that among black children, especially males, that number was even more excruciating at 33 percent.

We called the village together – at that time, it was mostly members of the local NAACP. We held a meeting and told them that our children were not performing well and we developed a plan of action.

The principal allowed us to do something that was unprecedented. We marched through the school grounds with posters of encouragement and held a rally in the football field stadium with the entire student body, along with a popular Charlotte radio station that came down to broadcast live from the rally after they heard what we were about to do.

We used chants, motivational pep talks and music to inspire and encourage the students.

We showed we cared by first showing up. And don’t ever discount that because showing up is half the battle won. We told the students that day that we were there for the long haul. This was not a one-time deal. This was a movement – not a moment.

We were all encouraged to make signs that day for the rally. My sign read HOLLA: which stands for Helping Our Loved ones Learn and Achieve! (God gave me this idea in the shower.)

At that time, the name of our movement was called OPERATION SAVE THE CHILDREN. It was suggested that we use the acronym HOLLA! to replace Operation save the children – and thusly HOLLA! was born.

That was in 2005. Fast forward to today and HOLLA!, of which I am a founding board member, is a successful 501(c)(3) organization that is the paradigm of nonprofit organizations in the Sandhills region.

In 2023, it was recognized by Black Business Ink among the most 100 most influential organizations and individuals in the state.

Since our inception, HOLLA! has purchased an old hardware building and repurposed it into a community center that is a hub for youth and community resources. It was developed so that young people would have a place to come for tutoring, mentoring sessions, academic reinforcement, and programs for music, theater and arts.

We built a tennis court and taught young people how to play tennis. We’ve taken a few group of students to the U.S. Open and our shining example is a young lady who participated in the program who earned a tennis scholarship to attend Livingstone College.

We built a park within the town limits and opened a fitness center across the street from the community center because we know that health is wealth. We’ve given tens of thousands of scholarship dollars and cash awards throughout the years to Anson County students.

We’ve put on plays and host various functions for the betterment of our community.

All of this because someone asked of us what the Massai tribe asks every day:

And how are the children?

So I ask: And how are the children in Liberia?

I had the pleasure of visiting Liberia twice in 2019. The first time was in April and the second was in December.

My connection to Liberia was deeper on so many levels. There is something to be said about Liberia’s hospitality that exceeds fascination.

The history of the country, for one. As it was basically colonized by freed slaves from America.

The women there were welcoming and friendly. They welcomed us into their homes and into their lives. The sisterhood was palpable.

The men were gentlemanly and chivalrous and confident. No matter what their economic status, their pride was their prevailing charm.

And the children, how were the children?

On the surface, they were bright eyed, happy, laughing, playful, inquisitive and hungry. Hungry not in the literal sense, though that is a legitimate care, but hungry for knowledge, hungry for education, hungry for opportunity.

Hakim’s story

Before I left in April, I told my friend that I wanted to visit an orphanage. Because it had always been my dream to adopt a child from Africa if I did not have any of my own by the time I was 40.

We went to an orphanage in which her brother-in-law had a connection. It was All Saints Orphanage in Montserrado County.

The director was informed that I was there due to my interest in adopting a child, which was a rarity for this facility. Not many people go there looking to adopt, so the process was a bit

archaic and unorthodox. The staff lined up all of the eligible children under a huge shade

tree. They were all dressed in their uniforms of green tops and gray bottoms. Once all lined up, the director asked me to choose.

Just like that: choose.

This was so awkward for me, unreal even. Choose? Like this? As if I am shopping for a new piece of clothing. The group of friends with me cringed at the idea as well.

To break the ice, I said, let me go and greet each of them individually. So that is what I did. I walked up to each one and shook their hand and introduced myself.

I had told my friend, the bride, that I would only be prompted to make a connection with a child if God so moved me to. So once I met all of the children and returned to my position facing them, she came and whispered in my ear: Is God speaking to you?

As soon as I opened my mouth to say, no, my eyes locked with one particular child. It was fate.

“Wait a minute, I said. This young fellow looks like my father.”

I told the director that I wanted to meet that child. Again, to my chagrin, he went and singled this young boy from the group and told the others they were dismissed.

My heart ached for those children at the orphanage. The rejection they must have felt of lost opportunity for a better life. But my spirit leaped at the opportunity to meet the little fellow who resembled my dad, the one whose face I totally didn’t remember seeing during the one-one-one introductions.

His name was Sando Warner and he was 13 at the time I met him, though he looked to be about 8 or nine years old, some say due to malnutrition. I shared with him my desire to adopt a child and wanted to know if he would be interested in living with me in America.

He was quite shy at first, barely answering what I asked in a whisper. I took a photo with him and left as my plane was due to leave later that day for my return home. My friend, Ophelia, who would be leaving days later, promised to get the paperwork for me from the orphanage.

Sando Warner arrived at the orphanage at the age of six years old. His father had died after a long sickness and his mother was sick and unable to care for him. She later died.

He has a brother, Kamara, and a sister, Alice. His aunt, Aunt Massa, couldn’t raise all three children so she sent the two boys to live at the orphanage while she raised the girl.

I sent money to Liberia so that Sando could buy a phone and we could talk to get to know each other better. We talked nearly every day. I asked if he would have a problem changing his name to Hakim upon completion of the adoption process and he said no. Hakim H-A-K-I-M is a combination of my name: HA for Harrington and Kim for Kimberly)

When I returned back home, I approached the CEO and founding president of HOLLA! about developing an international arm to the organization that would focus on helping our loved ones in Africa to learn and achieve.

I named it HOLLA Africa.

That December, I went back to visit Hakim and to sponsor Christmas for the entire orphanage. HOLLA Africa donated three laptop computers, three bikes, three fans, three dozen composition books, board games, two 25 kilogram bags of rice and sponsored Christmas dinner. I spent the entire Christmas day with them showing them how to play the board games and they showed me how to race with a spoon in my mouth that held an egg. It was simply fun.

The next spring, we donated three goats and three chickens.

And the next Christmas, we shipped items there to sponsor Christmas at the orphanage again, which included bikes, games, dolls, books and clothes.

I am still in the process of bringing Hakim here, hopefully this fall to attend Livingstone College.

In the meantime – and no matter what happens, I am his mother. He is my son. And all the children at the orphanage are my neighborhood kids.

Hakim has excelled in school. He was elected student government president of his senior class and gave an inspiring acceptance speech. That once shy child is now standing before crowds of people talking of how to change his corner of the world.

While we don’t take credit for this, I would like to believe that with God, prayer and our influence in his life, we had a little something to do with it because we gave him hope.

As you can see, when given opportunity, they can excel. This is what HOLLA Africa is trying to provide.

And how are the children in Liberia? When it comes to education, according to UNICEF, the children could be doing better. The ripples from Liberia’s civil wars are still being felt today. During the war, schools were damaged or destroyed, teachers fled and did not return, leaving children to have to attend community schools or drop out altogether.

Liberia has one of the world’s highest levels of out-school children, with an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of 6–14 year-olds who are not in class. Forty percent of primary school students are 3 years oldernthan they should be for their grade; 16 percent of primary school aged students are not in school; and more than half don’t complete primary school with more girls failing than boys.

But progress is being made, the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and others, are building schools, repairing classrooms, and training teachers.

When we first started HOLLA Africa, some local citizens criticized us, saying we should keep our focus on the children in America. My response was why can’t we do it all.

We are ONE.

Do what you can in your corner of the world, whether that be in your neighborhood, your church, your city or town, your state, your organization and your nation of one. Just do something.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

A small group of people started HOLLA! and are changing the lives of children one by one in Anson County.

An even smaller sect started HOLLA Africa and are changing the lives of Liberian children at an orphanage, one by one.

If each one would reach one and teach one, we will all overcome.