This year Avila had the pleasure of participating in the fight against poverty. Interestingly, it was not a traditional way of giving. Companies like FINCA and KIVA have found a new way to give to those in need. They have decided to give loans to people around the world who are suffering financially. As part of our first year project, this year's freshmen were able to participate in providing these loans to both individuals and families in need. This money came from the sale of T-shirts and various donations. As part of this project, we had to divide ourselves into groups of 2 and decide on the recipient of our loans. Each loan was a total of $50 and we got to personally choose who we wanted to sponsor, which I thought was very cool. The recipient my partner and I chose was a young woman named Liya Banda from Zambia. Liya's story was very touching and had more impact because she was very young and had already been through a lot. Unfortunately, Liya had to drop out of school in seventh grade because her family couldn't afford it. At the age of 13, Liya's father died and this forced her family to move into the homes of various relatives, resulting in their separation. Liya was sent to her uncle's house, where she was mistreated by her aunt. This made life very hard for Liya, it felt like her childhood had been snatched from her hands, forcing her to grow up quickly. To support herself, Liya started selling vegetables at her village market to help provide for her family. Soon Liya married and had four children. Her husband's business was not doing well and he was unable to provide for his family, so he eventually abandoned Liya and the children, leaving her to be the primary provider and parent of his growing family... middle of paper... ...it was also a great way to show what our school does. Being a servant and being part of the change is the direct definition of Avila's values. Avila has always helped make a difference, as all of Avila expects every student and staff member to focus on change. Avila always jumped at the idea of ​​lending a helping hand to the community or anyone in need. Giving is what this school was built on. I learned that microfinancing is a simple and interesting way to make a difference. Now that I know how to do it, I can make it an annual event. This experience and all experiences to come are very crucial for every student. I know I will always look back on this experience and I know I can always be a part of the change. Now we all know that we can be part of the change and that when we come together we can have an even greater impact.