Helping Ghana is a passion for the Bervell family.
Rachel Bervell founded Hugs for Ghana when she was a student at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo. She is a junior at Harvard University.
Her brother, Joel, a junior at Kamiak, is president of Hugs. He not only collected money and goods f
or children in West Africa, he personally delivered it.
“I visited Ghana, West Africa, for the first time in 2007 on a family trip when I was 11 years old,” Joel said. “My family traveled to various Ghanaian orphanages, schools and hospitals. I was shocked at how much these facilities lacked, especially when compared to the United States.”
The Mukilteo family started Hugs for Ghana, Joel said, aimed at giving gifts of hope and creating lasting relationships with children in hospitals and schools.
“The organization is entirely run and controlled by high school students,” he said. “We began trying to make a difference in the lives of Ghanaian children.”
Kamiak students were asked to donate for medical and school supplies.
“In order to buy the medical supplies, I gave speeches to different organizations asking for grants,” Joel said. “The bulk of the money raised, however, came from two projects.”
One was called “100 Cents Saves A Life” and the other was “A Ghanaian Night of Culture.”
Joel recruited students from Kamiak to help the non-profit organization, including Vice President Juliana Jorgensen; Treasurers Paul Barton and Diana Bui; Secretary Vivian Zhu; Public Relations Phil Janaceck; Advertising Director Geena Boyce and Mackenzie Gaddy, Felicia Harrison, Megan Ngyen and Esther Kim.
“100 Cents Saves a Life” was a three-week-long fundraising drive. The Hugs group walked around during lunch collecting money in tin cans. They raised $500.
The second fundraiser, a “Ghanaian Night of Culture,” was held June 4. Folks learned about needs of disadvantaged children in Ghana. They raised $2,000. Joel said the $2,500 was used to buy medical thermometers.
There were several school supply drives at Kamiak. Joel picked a team to paint 75 colorful boxes for the donations. They collected more than 6,000 items throughout the year.
In July, Joel traveled to Accra, Ghana, and delivered the supplies. The thermometers were given to Labadi Children’s Hospital, Eikwe hospital and Korle-bu hospital. He visited Tikobo II elementary and junior secondary school, Eikwe Village junior and secondary school, and Hobor junior and secondary school.
“It was amazing to see how much of a difference that one pencil or backpack could make to a child, especially when realizing that at some schools such as Hobor, students didn’t even have desks to write on, so they often found it more comfortable to lay on the dirt floor and write.”
This year, Hugs for Ghana is collecting sports equipment. Joel said he wants to establish a penpal program, too. For more information, visit hugsforghana.org or write to Hugs for Ghana, P.O. Box 996, Mukilteo, WA 98275.
His culture night is planned for February. When he visits Ghana in June, he hopes a handful of friends can go, too, to experience the culture.
His parents, Theresa and Joseph Bervell, were both born in Ghana. They moved to Canada, then the United States when Joel was 9 months* old.
His mother, Theresa Bervell, said her son has natural talent, devotion and collaborates well with others.
“Joel is a decisive team leader, very visionary and self-confident who is able to involve others to join his cause. This is achieved by his interaction with others typified by respect, matured conversation, caring, responsibility and fairness.”
Joel is active in student government and was the student body president at Harbour Pointe Middle School. He’s been class president for three years at Kamiak.
“He accomplishes anything he puts his mind to through creative vigor, cheerful attitude, sensitivity and passion,” Theresa Bervell said. “I know he is greatly devoted to service causes and will continue to involve his school in his visions to make a difference in the lives of others in the world.”
When Joel collected coins for Ghana, he hoped to make a point about giving.
“Donations did not have to be dollar bills, but could be anything as simple as a penny,” Joel said. “The goal of the drive was not only to raise money, but also to help my peers realize that there is a world in need beyond their immediate view.”
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com
* Correction, Nov.11, 2011:This story originally used an incorrect age for when Joel Bervell moved to the United States.
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