proud of my daughter

Kayla Madison Burstein

September 27, 2007

To Whom It May Concern

Dear Sir and Madam:

My name is Kayla Madison Burstein and I am twelve years old. I was Bat Mitzvah in June 2007 and I have made a commitment to practice Tikun Olam, being charitable.

You may be asking yourself why I’m writing this? A friend of the family has a daughter Jessica who is working in Africa trying to make it a safe and better place for mothers and children to live. I’ve seen pictures of these children and I’m so lucky, privileged and so thankful where I am.

Take a moment and try to imagine your children or grandchildren having no food, poor health, education, entertainment such as sports, dance or television. Go one step further imagine children without parents or just having the simple luxury of spending time with you at home. You can’t because we have this every day and this is something we all take for granted. I know because I am one of those kids and grandchild who is fortunate enough to go to school, have a roof over my head, guitar lessons and a bed that I sleep in every night. I can easily say and I do, open the fridge and say “Hmm what do I feel like eating today?” Call my friends Avril, Claire and Ashley to come over and play. Go into my closet and take five minutes to decide what to wear what shoes I feel like putting on. Most children in Africa only dream of what we take for granted each and every day. Some children don’t even live to have such dreams or can even understand that thought.

- 2 -

The people of Africa that I’m writing about live in poverty, some have Aids, poor health, lack nutrition and live in fear. These children don’t know from sports as they have to work for pennies a week to provide food for their families. These children don’t know from snacks, refrigerators filled with food, play dates with friends any of the everyday things we do that we take for granted. I believe that everyone has a right to food, health, clean water, education and a home that they can stay safe. No one person can save the world but as Bono and Oprah always says every little bit that every person contributes can save a life.

I took a task on this past summer and sent emails to various big sports companies to ask them to donate soccer balls so that they could be sent to the children of Africa. It will not change their life but it will give them some enjoyment to play with other friends when they don’t have to work. I was disappointed when I received the emails telling me that they can’t help me out. My father always says if you want to do something you have to take charge and do it yourself. So I asked my parents for some of my Bat Mitzvah money and I purchased the soccer balls myself for these children. Children, whose faces I can’t picture or know. But I do know that when these children receive these soccer balls I helped put a few smiles on a few faces and maybe given them some enjoyment in their struggle to survive in their everyday life.

Let me ask you, doesn’t your heart light up when you see your children or grandchildren smile? I am asking for your assistance to help me help them. A little money out of my bank account doesn’t make a huge difference to me, but I hope that I have made my Bat Mitzvah wish come true and made a small difference to these children. I hope you can find it in your hearts to make a difference.

Thank you for listening!

Sincerely,

Kayla Madison Burstein