Michelle Bergh

Tanzania, Africa is one of the poorest countries in the entire world.  My father, Kjell Bergh, has made many trips to Tanzania and once even co-owned a photo safari lodge there with some missionaries who started Operation Bootstrap Africa.  His travel agency, Borton Overseas, specializes in adventure travel trips to Tanzania, Asia and Scandinavia--he's from Norway.  My father also served as MN Honorary Consul to Tanzania for many years.  Both of my parents have volunteered with organizations that help Tanzania, but especially Operation Bootstrap Africa.

So, of course, Operation Bootstrap Africa was where my very first volunteer efforts began at age 5!  This organization was started by a family of missionaries, the Simonson's, who used to be business partners with my dad in the photo safaari lodge in Tanzania.

Operation Bootstrap Africa uses its donation money to purchase much-needed school supplies for the school children in Tanzania.   Tanzania is extremely poor, and the children would not otherwise have basic things like pens, pencils, notebooks, paper, crayons, paperclips and other necessary items. 

 Some of the things I've done for this organization, even when I was only 5, include folding and stuffing envelopes, sealing and stamping envelopes.  OBA purchases large quantities of the supplies, and the original bulky packaging of the supplies make them expensive to pack and ship.  So, I would also take the items out of the bulky packaging and re-pack the items in containers that are better for bringing to Tanzania.  They also support Kenya and Madagascar.  

I was honored to have personally met and presented flowers to the President of Tanzania when he was here for a visit in 2006.

My family is also involved with the Peace House Foundation and Books for Africa.  We attend their various fundraiser events and make donations.  Under the strong leadership of AP Human Geography instructor, Sara Damon, the junior high I attended has organized and hosted fundraisers for Books for Africa.

My church, Christ Lutheran Church, as well as many other lutheran churches, is heavily partnered with churches in Tanzania.  We attend the church fundraisers for Tanzania, and when my church has products from Tanzania for sale, we make sure we buy things.

As a young child, my Sunday School class made blankets to be sent to the children in our sister church in Tanzania.  I had never made a blanket before, and it was really fun!  

If you 'd like more information about how you can get involved with Operation Bootstrap Africa, here's the link:  

http://www.bootstrapafrica.org/

Peace House Foundation

There are SO many orphans in Tanzania who are homeless.  Many don't have a safe place to sleep, they are starving and are unable to get to school.

A friend of my father's founded the Peace House Foundation.  They build and run orphanages and schools for these children.  They are housing the orphans in clean, safe rooms.  The children get prepared meals and they are taught by teachers provided by the Peace House in schools that this organization built.

Peace House works very closely with the Asante Africa organization.  Here is the link to their site, if you're interested in donating.

https://asanteafrica.org/

Books for Africa

It is very difficult for the Tanzanian children to get enough text books.  Some children have to share one book with ten other students.  So, Books for Africa purchases and ships books over for them to use. 

My dad says that education is the key to getting Tanzania out of poverty.  These organizations are helping that happen.

I'm proud to say that I've been involved with school fundraisers for Books for Africa through my involvement with student council and my AP Human Geography instructor.

If you'd like to donate books or funds, or volunteer for this organization, here's their link:

https://www.booksforafrica.org/donate/donate-books.html

H20 for Life, Sudan, Africa

In Sudan, Africa, as well as many other places in the world, people have to walk great distances to get clean drinking water.

Every year, the junior high I attended, Stillwater Junior High, as well as many other schools around the country, put on an H20 for Life/Walk for Water to raise money to help provide wells with clean water for these people.  My school's goal is to raise $50,000 in 5 years.  I'm proud to say my former school, under the strong leadership of AP Human Geography instructor, Sara Damon, has already raised more than $80,000 for the cause since 2009!  Ms. Damon has also arranged to have speakers who were part of the Lost Boys of Sudan.   

I had the pleasure of participating in this walk in Sept. 2013 with my friend, Linnea and several other friends.  We had to walk 17 laps, which is the equivalent distance that many people in Sudan have to walk to get water, while carrying 2 gallon jugs of water.  You can imagine how heavy that felt after about the 4th lap!

In 2014, I was selected by Ms. Damon to be on the leadership team for the event and got to help plan, organize and set up.

If you'd like to donate to the efforts, please follow this link:

 https://www.h2oforlifeschools.org/sponsors/12

Below:  My friend, Linnea, and me at Lap #17, the completion point of our school Walk for Water for the people of Sudan, Africa.  We are wearing our Walk for Water T-shirts.