Dare 2 Care International is challenging Northeast Ohioans to help a group of kids find hope in Cameroon
By Patricia Nugent
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
This quote, from Margaret Mead, is the motto for Dare 2 Care International, a nonprofit charity that began here in Lake County nine months ago with the lofty goal of empowering at-risk children from the other side of the world to reach their potential when the odds are stacked against them.
The grass-roots organization is founded by Sanjay and Nicole Parker, who share a passion for helping children. Sanjay’s father was an orphan in India and his grandmother ran an orphanage there. Nicole worked in international adoptions.
Board member Lori Caszatt, who travelled to Cameroon, Africa, with the Parkers in December 2017 says, “We wanted to hear from them directly how we could help improve their quality of life.”
She says they chose Cameroon because several of their friends from Northeast Ohio were born there and are currently board members.
“There are many orphans who cannot afford to stay in school because their school fees are so high,” she says. “They also have to pay for uniforms and school supplies. We wanted to provide education empowerment grants to keep these kids in school.”
The orphanage the charity is partnering with houses 29 children and one house mother living without running water. Lori says they do all of their cooking outdoors and struggle with even the most basic necessities.
“Our experience in Cameroon was humbling and inspiring,” she says. “The places we visited weren’t always easy to see, but the Cameroonian people were so beautiful and full of hope.”
To raise awareness on a local level, the organization has hosted a screening of the movie Mully, which tells the story of an orphan in Kenya, and held the Rocks for Kids in Cameroon event at the Willoughby Public Library for people to paint rocks that they took to Cameroon and gave the orphans. Look for more fundraisers to come this spring.
Dare 2 Care International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information on how you can help support their efforts to aid orphans in Cameroon, Africa, whether by donating or volunteering, visit Dare2Care.org.