KIDLanthropy
KIDlanthropy is a digital magazine about philanthropy for high school learners. Having seen the youth’s enthusiasm around philanthropic causes such as The School SleepOut™ – which sees learners and teachers spend a night outdoors on their school grounds, collecting items for communities in need – The CEO SleepOut™ wanted to expand the message of empathy, philanthropy and social innovation and entrepreneurship to teens.
KIDlanthropy is a digital magazine about philanthropy for high school learners. Having seen the youth’s enthusiasm around philanthropic causes such as The School SleepOut™ – which sees learners and teachers spend a night outdoors on their school grounds, collecting items for communities in need – The CEO SleepOut™ wanted to expand the message of empathy, philanthropy and social innovation and entrepreneurship to teens.
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Meet the Difference Makers<br />
If you think you need to turn 21 before doing your bit to change the world, these<br />
youngsters will show that you actually don’t. Whether your business idea<br />
benefits the sick, or donates to a good cause, it’s worth starting – now!<br />
Words: Norma Young<br />
FREE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE<br />
Who: Katelyn Lohr, 18. Founder of Freetoes, toeless<br />
socks. www.freetoes.com<br />
What: When she was 8, Katelyn wanted to play<br />
outside, even though the weather was slightly chilly.<br />
Her mother wanted her to dress warmly, but Katelyn<br />
just wanted to run out in her flip-flops. Not keen to<br />
wear socks and shoes, Katelyn came up with the idea<br />
to cut her socks, so she could easily slide her toes into<br />
flip-flops. Freetoes started off solving her frustration,<br />
and is now a popular brand for children, adults and<br />
even spa owners, whose clients want a pedicure while<br />
keeping their feet warm.<br />
When: K8.org came about in 2010 when Katelyn<br />
decided to donate 300 pairs of Freetoes to children<br />
affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Since that first<br />
donation, she’s formally partnered with Project<br />
Aftershock, which even uses Freetoes to colourfully<br />
cover bandages on injured kids.<br />
Where: Freetoes is stocked in shops across North<br />
America. Project Aftershock is based in Canada and<br />
provides relief in Haiti.<br />
Why: In an interview, Katelyn explained her<br />
philanthropic views: “Helping people is always<br />
something I wanted to do and with the fame<br />
that Freetoes has given me, I have had lots of<br />
opportunities to give.”<br />
FROM FEAR TO ADVOCACY<br />
Who: Mikaila Ulmer, 12, Founder of Me and the<br />
Bees. www.meandthebees.com<br />
What: Me and the Bees is a lemonade brand,<br />
started after its founder was stung by two bees in<br />
one week. Her mom suggested she do research to<br />
help better understand them, and hopefully become<br />
less scared of them. Once she’d learnt that bees<br />
were in danger of becoming extinct, Mikaila came<br />
up with an idea of using honey instead of sugar in<br />
lemonade, knowing if she bought honey from local<br />
beekeepers, she could help the bee population.<br />
When: The business started in 2009. In 2015,<br />
Mikaila then secured an investment of more than<br />
R600 000 on the TV show “Shark Tank”, enabling<br />
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