A Lake Country girl has won a national award for helping girls in Afghanistan.
Alaina Podmorow, 14, was selected Canada’s top teen philanthropist for 2011 by Mackenzie Investments. She earned the distinction for the charity she started five years ago – Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan.
The investment-management company gave Alaina a $5,000 donation, directed in her name, to the Little Women charity. She also receives $2,500.
“There are philanthropists all over the world making a difference. Saying I’m the top philanthropist in Canada is incredible. It’s humbling to know our work is recognized for that. I’m just so proud,” Alaina said in Toronto, where she received the award Tuesday night.
The Grade 9 student at Aberdeen Hall has become a media darling. She appeared on Canada A.M. and is booked for numerous interviews this week.
Other teens are sharing the spotlight. Five runners-up were each rewarded with a $500 donation to the charity of their choice and $500 cash.
“This contest is a great way to recognize this important work and to encourage these philanthropic teens to continue giving back,” said Brad Offman of Mackenzie Investments.
Alaina founded Little Women in 2006 to pay for the hiring of female schoolteachers in Afghanistan. She was inspired after hearing many Afghan girls her age stayed away from school because their parents didn’t want men teaching them.
Through corporate sponsorships and donations, as well as events like bottle drives, auctions, bake sales, car washes, and swim-a-thons, the charity has raised close to $375,000. The money pays for teachers’ salaries and has helped finance the building of schools and libraries in Afghanistan.
Despite all her work, Alaina has yet to travel to the country. She plans to go soon.
“I really want to go there and see the schools and the orphanage we support, as well as the libraries we’ve helped get started,” she said.
Alaina believes education is the stepping stone towards peace and has donated more than 2,000 hours to her cause.
In a news column published last year by the Globe and Mail, she wrote: “I’ve always believed that education is the only way we can move toward peace. In the five years since I founded Little Women, we have . . . changed the lives of many Afghans.”
She joined three dozen other young activists from around the world for a week-long summit in New York last year. Most of the participants in the Three Dot Dash Just Peace Summit were 18 or 19 years old.
Alaina arrives back in the Okanagan today. To donate to her charity, visit littlewomenforlittlewomen.com.
