Written by Timothy Lewis, USA, about Cast B 2009′s legacy project.
As Cast B 2009 approaches the end of our amazing journey – instead of pumping the brakes on our contributions to the world – we are using the momentum from the semester to finish strong. It is a tradition in Up With People that each cast will rally behind a cause or organization and work to the best of our ability, utilizing all resources to lend a helping hand. 
As a cast, we have selected to support the Red Rhino Orphanage Project in Kenya. The mission of the Red Rhino Orphanage Project (RROP) is to house and educate some of the most desperate and unfortunate children in Kenya, enabling them to become contributing members of society and leaders of the next generation. We’ve sung so much about how important it is to appreciate the one to one connections and we are using that idea with the realization that it truly does take a whole village to raise a child to empower our host families, alumni and friends to contribute financially as well. Over the course of the past few months, we’ve visited many countries and somewhere in the bottom of many of the suitcases we travel with are left over Pesos, Dollars and Kronors. We’re collecting donations in all currencies to create a “Block of Bills”. A map was created that highlights our route around the world and using square blocks, each of which represents 20 bills, we are shading in the blocks depending on how many bills we get. The goal is to fill as many blocks as we can. Set numbers are useful in reaching a goal, true enough; however, we didn’t want to place any limitations on what we can achieve together. Even though it is the end of the semester for us, we see many benefits in supporting an organization like RROP. For example, we are raising awareness about the living situation of some children in Kenya by promoting this cause. What is more, we ourselves are being educated every step of the way. Additionally, financial contributions help maintain the vitality of a program that is in it’s infancy, but is constantly gaining more and more momentum. It is a way for us to search within ourselves and motivates us to appreciate what we have. We want to everything in our power to make the same opportunities available for someone else. In addition to financial contributions, we are also constructing a “chain of love” Each time a donation is made, a message is written on a color-coded paper and added to a chain of inspiring messages. Finally, it broadens our reach to a place where an Up With People cast has not physically touched. As a cast, we realize that seeds planted today make a huge difference in shaping the world in which we live. As a final push this week, we are making available a place to donate online and continuing to measure our progress. For more information on the Red Rhino Orphanage Project, please visit www.rrop.org. You will also be able to help donate to this great cause! A Paypal link will be available soon!
