Karma for Cara Foundation microgrant recipients have competed in an application process alongside other young people who have spearheaded exceptional service projects that benefit their communities. In order to qualify for a K4C award, an applicant must be 18 years of age or younger, and the project must take place in the US.
Microgrant recipient Rujta (16) from IL used her award to host a backpack packing event at the Schaumburg Township Library. Through her nonprofit foundation EduSpark, Rujuta & team packed over 140 backpacks to donate to students at Oakhill Elementary School.
| What inspired you to start this project? | Education has always been a cause that I’ve valued greatly. As an individual fortunate enough to not have to worry about financial barriers in education, I wanted to create a way to acknowledge and give back to the numerous students across the world and especially locally that do not have the same access to these resources and supplies. Therefore, I wanted to start a backpack packing event to alleviate the financial burden that impacts many students as they head back to school this year. Items like backpacks and school supplies should be available for any student so that they are able to start school feeling prepared to enter class. After implementing a similar project like this last year, but on a much smaller scale, I knew I wanted to expand its potential and help even more students than before. Most of all, I want to help families enter this year with a lesser burden on finances so that they can focus on the learning and growth of their kids instead. |
| While working on your project, what surprised you? | Working on this project surprised me in a number of ways. Firstly, I was shocked to see the reactions from the teachers and students once they received the supplies. I knew it was going to have an impact, but just how much the impact would me astounded me. When they sent in numerous thank-you messages and photos of smiling faces, it made me feel like I was a part of something bigger. Additionally, I was surprised by how quickly my team and I were able to finalize details as we got close to the date. By working together, the tasks became manageable and we were able to get everything done efficiently while still having fun. |
| What do you feel you learned from this experience? | This experience taught me a lot about time management and leadership in general. I realized how much effort I had to dedicate to actually organize a timeline with my team for the event. Despite what I initially thought, there was a lot of behind-the-scenes work that included recruiting volunteers, securing a space, delivery of the supplies, and more. However, it taught me a lot about staying organized and making sure I’m on top of everything by sticking to a strict schedule and following deadlines. Additionally, sharing the event with other volunteers helped me to grow my voice and leadership abilities as I presented my mission and goals in front of a larger audience. Sharing these thoughts with others and working with them to bring everything together helped me craft my vision as a leader. |
| How did Karma for Cara impact your project? | Karma for Cara played an enormous role in impacting and supporting our project. The grant was such an incredible opportunity that truly made a difference in the scale and size of our project. It allowed us to purchase 144 backpacks and essential school supplies that helped serve hundreds of students as they head back to school. Karma for Cara’s staff and microgrant process overall was so accommodating and helpful overall, which made the whole process so much easier. Something that started out as a vision for a mini community project was able to turn into something with a greater impact thanks to the support and funding. |
| How will your project continue to impact others? | My backpack packing project will continue to impact others by creating lasting opportunities for students to succeed in school. Having the right supplies at the start of the year gives children confidence and helps them stay engaged in their learning, which can influence their long-term academic success. |
