Damiah makes a difference

Damiah is like a lot of 10-year-olds. She’s celebrating her recent graduation from the fifth grade. She likes to play softball and volleyball, and she loves having fun with her friends. Unlike many kids her age, however, she has one special friend who happens to live thousands of miles away from her own home in rural Virginia – across an entire ocean, in fact.

Damiah says she will never forget the first time she saw Annie, her 4-year-old friend in Zambia.

“I was with my grandma and some of her friends, and we went to a church concert,” Damiah remembers. “I saw the ChildFund [booth], and I said, ‘Nanny, Nanny, please, can we sponsor a kid?’ She said yes!”

At first, Damiah found it difficult to choose a child to sponsor. As the youngest child in her own family, she knew she wanted to connect with a kid who was younger than her and be like a big sister to them.

“I just saw all the little kids’ faces, and they were just so cute!” Damiah says. Finally, a ChildFund volunteer reached beneath the table and handed her a pamphlet, and that’s when she saw Annie’s photo for the first time. She learned that Annie’s parents are farmers and that they don’t always have enough money to make ends meet. She also learned that Annie is in preschool, that she loves to color and that she wants to become a teacher one day. Damiah knew then and there that they were going to become great friends.

Annie, 4, in Zambia.

The whole experience “made my grandma’s day,” Damiah says. “And it made my day. I was talking about it the whole entire time back to my house.”

It’s only been five months since Damiah made the decision to become a sponsor, but she’s excited for the journey ahead. “Annie is going to get to know me, and I’m going to get to know her.

“I like picking out stuff for her and making her feel good and happy,” Damiah adds. She especially likes sending Annie letters and photos, plus small gifts like school supplies, books and even T-shirts. She hopes these will bring a smile to Annie’s face. “I wish I could see her face!” she says.

The care package Damiah sent to Annie recently.

When Damiah isn’t busy writing to Annie, she enjoys acting, modeling and participating in pageants. In fact, last year Damiah was crowned Miss Virginia by the International United Miss organization in the junior preteen category! She is more than a little excited to compete next month in the organization’s national state pageant in Orlando, Florida.

It’s no surprise Damiah enjoys these competitions, which are largely based on performing community service. Damiah thinks that being a blessing to others is the most important thing. Whether she is delivering goodies to local nursing homes, packing bags full of hygiene items for the homeless or just showing kindness to her neighbors, she’s living proof that compassion for others comes in all shapes and sizes – and that you’re never too young to make a difference in the world.

“I love to help people. I love being kind to people. Even if I’m grumpy sometimes, it still boosts up my spirit,” Damiah says.

Sponsoring a child, she says, is a great way to do just that.

“It’ll make you feel good and make them feel good, so just do what your heart says.”