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‘Embrace a Child in Tanzania’ Program

WILKES-BARRE — Students from Wilkes University’s student-run public relations firm have raised thousands to help orphaned children in Africa get an ...
wilkes orphan

WILKES-BARRE -- Students from Wilkes University's student-run public relations firm have raised thousands to help orphaned children in Africa get an education.

On Monday, they got to meet a child they are helping who, like them, is headed to college.

Kichinga George is taking in the fall colors and the crisp air on the campus of Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre. He's here to say thank you.

"Give me the chance and my dreams can be heard," said George.

George's dream is to become a doctor in his native Tanzania, a country plagued by poverty. Roughly half the people there do not live beyond the age of 60.

"One of the things I think that we fail to understand in the U.S. is the power of hope," said Wilkes University anthropology professor Linda Winkler.

Winkler travels to Tanzania taking part in programs that help orphans like Kichinga. He's one of thousands of people whose parents died of AIDS.

The support of students at Wilkes University and its 'Embrace a Child in Tanzania' program means hope for teens in Africa.

"In essence, they have somebody behind them. They have somebody who believes in them. And that's really a very powerful thing," said Winkler.

"They had the passion for me to get to work in my community," said George.

For the past three years, the student-run Zebra Communications at Wilkes raised thousands to help students like Kichinga George at events like a dodge ball tournament last fall.

In the past couple of days, they got to know Kichinga during his brief visit before he starts school. They've made him feel like a fellow Wilkes Colonel.

And when Kichinga returns to Tanzania next week, he promises this help from his new friends at Wilkes will pay off.

"By providing a chance for me, they have created an inspiration to me within my heart to study more."

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