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C H A R I T Y
COMMON KNOWLEDGE
COUNTRY DAY GRAD MEGHANN GUNDERMAN AIMS TO CHANGE THE WORLD ONE MIND AT A TIME
Meghann Gunderman is a breath of fresh air in a generation of TV-
since there is no formal public education system, is that these children
role-model-girls-behaving-badly like Mary Kate and Ashley, Paris and
are on their own. Literally.
Britney. If you are a twenty something Charlottean you may know
Meghann went to Africa in 2004 as part of her dissertation
this young lady from her days at Country Day. Perhaps you lived in
program, working for an NGO (non government organization, aka.
Scotland and knew her from the International Relations and Human
non-profit) where her placement was in an orphanage. “I studied
Geography program at University of St. Andrews, met her when she
for this trip, and thought I was prepared, but when I got on the
lived in Africa, or perhaps crossed paths with her during her one
ground there…whew! In my first days, doctors brought a newborn
year stint working for an investment bank in New York, where she
baby that had been found in the bushes – it was premature…you just
currently lives.
can’t study enough to prepare for something like this,” Meghann
If not, grab a pencil and paper and open your mind. This
expresses with her warm, compassionate blue eyes. As a mother, the
very special young woman is about to change the world, one mind at
cause alone is enough to tug at my heart strings, but hearing it and
a time…and you can help. In fact, by the time you are done reading
seeing it through Meghann’s eyes makes me want to do something,
this story, I will be surprised if you don’t run for your checkbook
to get involved.
(corporate or private funds desperately needed and graciously
accepted!).
“I went back the next summer after graduation and brought
a few girlfriends, and we all asked ourselves, ‘What is the best way
Meghann is currently the executive director for The
to combat this poverty? How can we affect the most change?’ The
Foundation for Tomorrow, a non profit organization she founded
answer is to educate children…to give them a global perspective. We
just this past November. Meghann is an accomplished young woman
are where we are because of our education,” Meghann articulates.
at the ripe young age of 24, to say the least. But it is what is beyond
“I’ve been extremely blessed in my life. I started asking friends and
the résumé that is most impressive. Meghann, like many of her
families who want to sponsor a child. For $1,110, you can pay
friends, peers and many Charlotteans, grew up with many blessings
for basic medical, textbooks, uniforms, room, board and private
and privileges, which we all have taken for granted at one time or
education for one child.” Break that down and that is less than some
another. In Africa, a public education is a privilege only granted to
of us spend a month on shoes or our cell phone bills.
those who can afford it. In Tanzania, on the East Coast of Africa,
After Meghann returned home to the States she did all of
50% of the population is under the age of 15. Of that population,
the expected things an accomplished young woman does after
over a million of those children are orphaned. What that means,
college. “I was hired out of London to Barclay’s Capital and transfered
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By Katherine Stefan, Images Courtesy of Meghann Gunderman
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to New York right away and worked there for a year, but I wasn’t
business men, making Freetown and Sierra Leone one of the
satisfied. It was eating at me. I didn’t like my job. I thought,
most civilized of West African countries. In 1961, a constitution
‘This isn’t benefiting anyone.’ I looked at the money I spent on
was adopted formally granting self governing rights of the people
such frivolous things, and started to become cynical…and that is
of Sierra Leone. However, the struggle for power between the
not me. I decided to quit my job against everyone’s advice, and
Sierra Leoneans and the minority Creoles began before the end
launched The Foundation for Tomorrow,” she explains. “When
of British rule. The Creoles created their own political party, the
I am on the continent of Africa I feel like an entirely different
Sierra Leone People’s Party, and the internal struggles between
person.” We joke around about Merrill Streep and “Out of
the two factions have resulted in a country and people ravaged
Africa” a bit. “Yeah, maybe I am a whimsical idealist, but that
by civil war and unrest for more than 35 years.
is what is great about my generation. We are not cynical yet,
Ishmael is a survivor of the tallest order. The suffering
and we still believe that we can make a difference and have an
he endured in witnessing his family members and friends
impact.”
tortured and burned to death; the brainwashing, forced drug
Meghann opted to base the Foundation out of New
consumption and addiction during his enlistment; and his
York, thinking that the Global perspective required to support
own brutal and haunting memories of killing and wounding
such an endeavor would be most effective in the country’s largest
his countrymen, women and children are enough to torture a
city. “Our strongest support base is coming out of Charlotte.”
human soul into a state of numbness beyond repair. Ishmael not
Her grass roots approach working with Country Day School,
only survived these emotional and physical scars, he found the
speaking to friends, family members and referrals from those
strength and determination within himself to escape. Ishmael
groups has been phenomenal to date. Meghann and her small
emerged hearing and heeding to a calling, sharing his story with
staff has already raised $76,000 in just over six months and
millions of people who have the means to make a difference
has placed two volunteers in Africa for a year, starting in July,
and stop the atrocities of war and the effect it has on children.
including fellow charlottean, Hunter Flint. She and her team of
Ishmael escaped Sierra Leone in 1998, and his story is told in
supporters are in the midst of planning a major annual event
its entirety in his book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy
slated to take place in early November. If you were sitting at the
Soldier. If Ishmael’s story would become required reading in our
coffee table with us this spring morning, you would believe as I
high schools, I believe peace would move closer to becoming an
do that Meghann’s lofty first year goal of $100,000 in proceeds
achievable ideal. Atrocities like war, terrorism and meaningless
and 250 guests is realistic and achievable.
shootings, like the one so close to home for us at Virginia Tech,
In parting, I rattle off a bunch of names of people and
would be no more. If Ishmael can survive this life and live to tell
companies I know that will get what Meghann is trying – allow
about it, we may learn to consider things that once troubled us
me to correct myself – what Meghann will surely achieve. “It all
as blessings, and realize there are others who need our help and
starts with education.” These children need our help. We do not
service. If you are moved to know more, read Ishmael’s book,
have to abandon our own charitable missions and causes here to
learn about the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division,
help a developing continent that desperately needs our support
support UNICEF or contact the Christian Mission for Orphans.
and attention. I am personally honored to call the founder of
this noble cause and organization a fellow Charlottean. I hope
you are moved to get involved – if you read this and Meghann
reaches out to you for your support, pick up the phone and
hear what she has to say.
Her voice represents millions of
children. There is nothing as priceless as a human mind and
soul, and you can help. Today. For more information, visit
thefoundationfortomorrow.org or call 704.340.8969. ■
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HRW.ORG/
CHILDREN
UNICEF (THE UNITED NATIONS
CHILDREN’S FUND) UNICEFUSA.ORG
CHRISTIAN MISSION FOR ORPHANS
ORPHANAGE.ORG
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