Berlin Native Takes Love of Children to International Levels

Berlin High School graduate Kayla Marie Recck has always loved working with children. A pre-school teacher by trade, the current South Carolina resident has found joy in helping children overcome challenges to succeed in life.

Now she is taking that passion for helping others to international levels as she prepares to embark on a journey to Kenya where she will spend 17 days living among those in a Swahili village near Nairobi, serving in an orphanage as part of a mission with International Volunteer HQ. But first the long-time Connecticut resident needs some help.

Recck is in the middle of a fundraising campaign as part of her volunteer effort, just 35 days away from heading to Africa and she is seeking help from Berlin residents in helping her achieve her goals.

“A big goal of this effort is to raise awareness on issues,” Recck said. “There are kids there that even with the help available don’t live adequately. Many people are focused on issues (in the United States), which great, but childhood poverty is a broader issue that is often forgotten.”

The 25-year-old student at Springfield College has worked with children for 11 years now, but said she has always longed to do something more. In researching how she could provide help, she came across International Volunteer HQ, an organization based out of New Zealand with a mission to provide help to those in need throughout the world.

The program is one of dozens offered throughout the world, according to the International Volunteer HQ website, and each mission is funded entirely by those serving on the trip.

“For me, it’s about wanting to travel and help the most needy children who don’t have voice,” Recck said.

For more information or to help support Recck’s effort, visit her fund site at http://www.gofundme.com/Kayla-going-to-Kenya.

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