Kamiak High School student takes action by starting a Non-Profit Organization

 

When students listen to the laments of Third World Countries and the rising of infant mortality, they feel sympathy, but they don’t take actions to change the crisis going on around the country. However, one student from Mukilteo, Washington decided to stop sympathizing and start taking actions. Meet Joel Bervell, a junior in Kamiak High School who is currently the president of the non-profit organization Hugs for Ghana.

Hugs for Ghana is an entirely student run organization dedicated to giving gifts of all types of items to impoverished Ghanaian kids, such as teddy bears, school supplies, medical supplies, and sports equipment. Mainly, Hugs for Ghana donate items to children from orphanages, hospitals, and dilapidated houses that are desperately in need of not only physical assistance but emotional assistance.

Although Joel plays an active role in the organization such as managing fundraisers and creating newsletters, it wasn’t him that started Hugs for Ghana. Joel’s sister, Rachel Bervell, visited Ghana in 2006 after her grandmother passed away in Ghana (Joel is a native Ghanaian). After witnessing the desperation and starvation of Ghanaian children, Rachel decided to start a non-profit organization in Kamiak High School wholeheartedly dedicated to bringing smiles to Ghanaian kids’ faces. Since then, Hugs for Ghana spiraled into of symbol of love in Kamiak High School, uniting students in order to make this world a better place. When Rachel Bervell matriculated into Harvard University in 2009, Joel took over the president position.

Just last year, Hugs for Ghana raised over two thousand dollars from Kamiak students alone. With the donation, Hugs for Ghana purchased medical supplies and sent it to “Korle-Bu” Hospital in Ghana, where medical items are scarce. In addition, Hugs for Ghanaalso raised 6000 teddy bears for the children of Ghana, and they also hold fundraisers such as “100 cents can save a life” (Hugs for Ghana members walks around during school lunches asking for donations) and “Ghanaian Culture Nights” (Hugs for Ghana members hold an annual culture night that entertains audiences with various music and cuisines). Joel also maintains a Hugs for Ghana official website that gives a brief history of what the organization is, what fundraisers are there, and how much they have raised so for.

Aside from Hugs for Ghana, Joel also works to make his school a better place. Having served as ASB president in his freshman, sophomore, and junior year, Joel culminated into a student who listens to other students’ complaints and strives to fix the problem in his school. To manage his time between Hugs for Ghana and his four AP classes, Joel sets a specific agenda for each day so he won’t procrastinate and end up spending his night doing homework. “It’s hard, especially with AP Chemistry and AP US History,” says Joel, “but it’s all worth it when I get to see the Ghanaian children full of smile.” This summer, Joel is traveling to Ghana to provide the orphanages and hospitals with the fundraised items.

Joel plans on applying to Harvard University in his senior year. “It’s a far-fetched goal,” Joel jokes around with a smile, “but it’s definitely a university I want to attend.” After he’s off to college, Joel’s brother, Michael Bervell, will serve as the president in Hugs for Ghana. But whatever the situation may be, Hugs for Ghana will continue to put smiles on Ghanaian kids’ faces, taking one step closer to making this world a better place.