The idea of recycling school supplies came to me when I realized that my children, at the end of each school year, come home with bags of used school supplies, put them away, and start their summer vacation. The supplies disappear unnoticed and unused. If you are like me and many parents, when school starts in August you end up buying new supplies, back packs, etc.

In 2007, I began sending out my children’s gently used school supplies to Ethiopia, my home country. The school supplies, though few in quantity, were helpful to children who went to my neighborhood school. They were excited to get crayons, markers, scissors, erasers, rulers, glue sticks, ruled papers, etc. They would have mainly continued their education with the basic pen and pencil. These supplies added color to their daily activities.

In 2008, I extended the offer to my children’s school. The principal, teachers, parents, and students came on board and donated boxes of supplies. They donated with great enthusiasm and big smile.

In 2009, we got a second school on board and more than doubled our supplies. Transporting boxes of school supplies personally became both heavy and expensive. We began the process of establishing UniKids as a not-for-profit organization, where we await the final approval.

I am thrilled to be part of this small movement, which one day will expand and connect our worlds through young helping hands.

Thank you for your support.

Senait Mareligne