Teen's sweet ambitions aid clean water efforts in Africa
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A teenage girl is making a big difference on the other side of the world through baked goods and the support of her community.
"I was really moved, and heard a calling from God to do something about it," said Brittany Harris.
Harris was only nine years old when she said a video at church struck a chord with her. The video showed children and adults in Africa who did not have clean water and were in dire need of a clean water source.
"I just knew that I wanted to help these people in anyway that I could," said Harris.
Brittany said she went to her parents and told them she wanted to raise money to help build a water well for a village in Africa.
"At first I was thinking, this is going to be a lot of work," said Brittany's mother Mandy. "But I was so blessed that she wanted to do something for other people outside of herself."
Brittany did what she knew how at the age of 9, she began baking up a storm. She sold Thanksgiving pies and cake balls to her friends and neighbors.
"I was just a girl who had a dream, and I did not know where it was going to take me," said Brittany.
That first year, she raised enough money to build a water well. But she wouldn't stop there. Now in her fifth year, she's raised more than $100,000 and has built nearly 20 water wells. The Brittany's Dream Project has become a community-wide effort.
"When she bakes, we will have a house full of teenagers and other volunteers who come just because they want to be a part of it," said Mandy.
Months ago, Brittany was sent a video from Africa by the group Water Wells For Africa. The video showed a well that was installed using Brittany's donations.
"We just cried when we watched the video," said Harris.
Brittany is now 14 and proving you're never too young to make a big difference on the other side of the world.
