Inspired by the story Beatrice’s Goat, Maddie Megargee, 7, walked three miles to raise money for Heifer International. Megargee and her first grade classmates at Springside raised over $700, which they used to purchase goats from Heifer.
Springside girls work so African kids can eat
by ELISABETH TORG
One hot Saturday not too long ago, Maddie Megargee walked three long, slow miles along Forbidden Drive. It took her three and a half hours. Mind you now, Maddie is a seven-year-old who really doesn’t like to walk. Not to mention that this was more than a mere stroll through the Wissahickon. This was a one-girl walkathon with a purpose.
Maddie Megargee walked … and walked … and walked … to raise money for a goat.
A goat, you see, could be a source of income for another family living half way around the globe in Africa.
A goat could make a difference in another child’s life.
A goat like Mugisa, who helped a girl named Beatrice.
It all started when Megargee and her first grade classmates at Springside School in Chestnut Hill turned the book Beatrice’s Goat into a play. The book tells the true story of a nine-year-old Ugandan girl named Beatrice whose family lives in the small village of Kisinga. The eldest of six children in a poor, single-parent family, the young child spends her days working in the fields, tending the chickens and caring for her younger siblings until her family receives a goat through Heifer International. The goat (whom Beatrice names Mugisa, or “luck”) makes all the difference in Beatrice’s life, for it is through sales of the goat’s milk that the family saves enough money to send the child where she’s always dreamed of going — to school.
The story resonated with Megargee so much that when her mother, Stephanie Kasten, drove past the local Heifer International office at 7719 Germantown Ave. a few days later, Maddie insisted she stop the car. The office was closed, but Maddie grabbed a catalogue and discovered that there’s a video about Beatrice too. Her Mom got a hold of it, and Maddie brought it to school. There she shared it with her 16 classmates and first grade teacher, Joan Wolfenden.
With that, Beatrice came to life, and a beautiful community service project was born. Wolfenden’s first grade girls decided they wanted to try to raise enough money to purchase one goat through Heifer International. Their hope was that they could buy a goat and help another family and possibly another child like Beatrice. “It’s almost as if Beatrice has become their friend,” said Wolfenden. “Because of the video and the book, they feel they know Beatrice. So there’s a connection.”
Only two weeks away from the end of the year, Wolfenden wasn’t sure the timing for the project was right. There was just no stopping it, however. The girls started selling things to raise money and were collecting it on their own. Realizing the extent of her students’ enthusiasm and determination, Wolfenden formalized the project and sent a letter home asking parents to allow the girls to earn their money through extra “chores” at home.
The result?
Wolfenden’s first grade class raised over $700 in just two weeks time. Enough money to buy that goat. Enough, actually, to buy six or seven goats.
Megargee chose the walk as her way to earn her money. She chose three miles as the distance because that’s how far some school children in Africa have to walk to get to school. “Priscilla Sands, head of Springside, offered to match the amount Maddie made,” explained Kasten, Megargee’s mother. “That really encouraged Maddie and gave her a lot of hope,” she said. Kasten herself generated significant funds by soliciting family and friends.
Megargee’s classmates generated their share by doing chores at home. “Other kids did chores because kids there (in Africa) do chores at a really young age,” explained Megargee.
“Every little bit was cause for excitement,” added Wolfenden. “Girls would come in and say ‘Look, I have another 40 cents!’”
“The whole message was so perfect,” said Wolfenden. “It has opened their eyes to what they have in their lives and what other kids have or don’t have.”
Today the real Beatrice is 19 years old. She finished her schooling in Africa and is now attending college in Connecticut.
And very soon, somewhere half way around the world, seven other families will receive their goats. And maybe seven other young girls who long to go to school will get their chance.
All thanks to 17 first-grade girls at Springside and a teacher who helped it happen.
Elisabeth Torg is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about women’s and children’s health. She is the co-chair of the Lower School Service Committee at Springside School. She was not involved in the service project featured in this article.
Beatrice’s Goat is written by Page McBrier and illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter. Upon invitation from Heifer Project International, McBrier traveled to East Africa to research a children’s book. The result was Beatrice’s Goat, the true story of a nine-year-old Ugandan girl whose dream of going to school was realized after her family received a goat from Heifer Project International. Today, two percent of the publisher’s proceeds are donated to Heifer Project International.
For more information, call 1-800-422-0474 or visit www.heifer.org.
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