Amazing Kids Feature: Ruhani from Louisiana

Every month we profile an Amazing Kid who has gone above and beyond to support Water for South Sudan (WFSS). We recently sat down with Ruhani, a high school junior in Shreveport, Louisiana, and learned about her efforts to fund clean water. Having always been creative, Ruhani had tried her hand at various mediums, working with clay, yarn, oil pastels, and eventually sewing. In the summer of 2020, Ruhani was inspired to do her part to make the world a more equitable place. She had already been making masks and for friends and family, and decided to pivot to a fundraising model at the suggestion of a friend. She then opened an Etsy shop called “Made by Kaur.” 

The first two organizations she picked to support were Color of Change, an organization that promotes racial justice across the United States, and Direct Relief, a nonprofit that “improves the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergency situations by mobilizing and providing essential medical resources needed for their care." She also donated to Americares, which focuses on global health and development. In the wake of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, she was inspired to support the ACLU, the nation’s largest civil rights organization. She also contributed to Gingerbread House, which supports children who have been the victims of domestic violence in her hometown. 

Ruhani

For the current fundraising quarter, Ruhani decided to donate her proceeds to Water for South Sudan. A variety of factors contributed to this choice. She had read A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park as a 6th grader, which tells the story of WFSS founder Salva Dut, and had recently read What is the What: the Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng by Dave Eggers, which tells the story of another Lost Boy of Sudan and his journey to the United States. As president of her school’s UNICEF club, she also was responsible for promoting UNICEF’s March 2021 theme, which was water, sanitation, and hygiene. She ended up raising $800 for WFSS--enough to sponsor a hygiene training. A community in South Sudan will now be empowered to protect themselves from the spread of disease because of Ruhani’s hard work. 

Ruhani says that she appreciates Water for South Sudan’s transparency and finds it motivating to be able to see specifically where her funds are going. When asked what advice she would give to anyone considering fundraising, she stresses that staying committed is key, knowing that your hard work will pay off. She also suggests picking a fundraising method that you actually enjoy doing, so that it doesn’t feel like a job. She estimates that she spends 7-15 hours per week making her products and managing her Etsy store.

When she’s not managing her business or leading her UNICEF club, she enjoys playing tennis with her dad, drawing, and picking up new hobbies. She’s starting to think about college, and knows that she would enjoy living in Chicago or somewhere on the West Coast. She lives with her parents, her younger sister, and two dogs. She is back in school, after a long year of remote learning. 

You can purchase Ruhani’s masks, hats, and scrunchies through her Etsy page via the link below, and stay tuned to see what cause she picks to support next. We’re honored to be among a list of such amazing organizations!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeByKaur

Every day we’re grateful for Amazing Kids like Ruhani—young people who step up to make a life-changing difference for South Sudan’s most vulnerable communities. Thank you for inspiring us and making our work possible! We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. 

Made by Kaur masks

Made by Kaur hats