Founder's Message
Thank you for visiting our website.
UniKids: Thinks Recycle - The idea of recycling school supplies came to me in 2007 when I realized that my children, at the end of each school year, come home with bags of used school supplies, put them away, and start their summer vacation. The used supplies disappear unnoticed and unused. Like many parents in the US, when school starts in August I end up buying new school supplies, back packs, etc.
I began sending my children’s gently used school supplies to students in Ethiopia, my home country. The school supplies, though few in quantity, were helpful to children who went to my neighborhood school. They were excited to get crayons, markers, scissors, erasers, rulers, glue sticks, ruled papers, etc. They would have mainly continued their education with the basic pen and pencil. These supplies added color to their daily activities.
In 2008, the concept expanded from one box of supplies to many more through the participation of an elementary school in Louisville, KY. The principal, teachers, parents, and students came on board and donated boxes of supplies with great enthusiasm. The following year, we got a second school on board and more than doubled our supplies.
Low-income school-aged children and orphans in developing countries cannot afford to buy these supplies and therefore lack the necessary tools to expand their imagination and to experience the wonders of color.
Please visit the rest of our website to find opportunities to volunteer, hold fundraising events, make donation, or to learn more about the work we do at UniKids.
Senait Mareligne - Director
