By Shelia Huffman, The Lake Hoods Lady
Young sisters Isabelle and Katherine Adams of Vickery Place Neighborhood know all about the spirit of giving and helping others who are less fortunate.
“Every 20 seconds a child dies because they don’t have clean water,” says 9-year old Isabelle Adams. She and her younger sister, Katherine, age 6, make and sell origami Christmas ornaments to raise money for Living Water International. Living Water is a Houston-based charity that drills water wells in Ethiopia and other developing countries. The girls named their project, Paper for Water.
Isabelle and Katherine learned about Ethiopia’s need for clean water during the summer of 2011 when a family friend shared stories and videos about the perilous conditions brought about by unsafe water. This made a big impression on the sisters and on their parents, Ken and Deborah Adams. Much of the world lives without clean water. Close to half of all people in developing countries suffer from a health problem or death caused by water and sanitation deficits.
A huge task for little girls (but with help from Mom and Dad), they have raised $120,522.50 for the Living Water project since November 3, 2011 by making and selling the origami folded ornaments. “We didn’t do it alone.” says Deborah, “we had help from friends and relatives.” Each time a goal is met, the girls quickly set another.
Isabelle and Katherine are the recent winners of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Youth in Philanthropy Award and the Presbyterian Communities and Services Foundation Each Moment Matters Award.
What exactly is origami? It is the Japanese art of paper folding that started in the 17th century and was popularized outside of Japan in the mid-1900s. Intricate folds without the use of cuts or glue result in a sculpted object. A similar technique using cutting and gluing is usually considered kirigami. The girls do have one ornament requiring glue but the others are strictly folded.
Most children and many adults are not even familiar with the art of origami. What made it appealing to Isabelle and Katherine at their ages?
“This is their late grandmother’s legacy.” says Deborah. “Michiko Adams was Japanese and taught her son, their dad, how to fold origami as a child. I wish that she could be here now to see how it has impacted our family and many others here locally and in the world. She was a very strong woman and I know she would have enjoyed championing this cause.”
Although each ornament is special, Isabelle made a unique red, white and blue ornament that she and Katherine will send to two other sisters for their tree, First Family children Malia and Sasha Obama.
The Christmas ornaments are for sale at MaryBeth on Oak Lawn, Lisabennet Salon on Inwood and in The Lotus Shop of the Crow Collection of Asian Art in downtown Dallas.
The sisters also have an instructional DVD for beginners that would make a great stocking stuffer. The DVD is available at MaryBeth and all proceeds go to Living Water International.