It is quite amazing to see the full circle journey of a dream.

An eager and quick learner, Elijah has been constantly seeking new pursuits. He took an early liking to sewing with his Mom’s direction and began honing his craft by making small stuffed elephants. What started as a simple educational task grew quickly to a much larger idea. What if by selling a few of these elephants he could help someone else pursue their passion?

Elijah started a GoFundMe campaign with a plan to use the funds to help provide an opportunity to a family in Tanzania. With the funds he could buy a sewing machine and some supplies so that the family could sell some something at the market and maybe make a little extra money to make ends meet. After only a few weeks, Elijah had sold enough elephants to buy 2 sewing machines, 2 pairs of scissors, fabric, thread, and everything that this small family needed to get started. In May of 2018, Elijah, his Uncle and Dad set out on a trip to meet with them in Tanzania.

After surprising them with the gift of sewing machines, Elijah a translator and a local with sewing experience helped teach two of the girls how to use the machines to sew the same elephants that Elijah had learned to sew. Perhaps ‘the happiest’ moment came with the family sat down to receiver one last gift from the funds raised by Elijah – a smart phone. The family was overwhelmed this. It enabled them a new freedom to communicate and a way to stay in contact even after their visitors returned home.

A plan was established with the family for them to help produce these adorable stuffed elephants. With their new sewing machine and the instruction they have received, they have been working to help meet the demand for the elephants. In December, just before Christmas at the end of 2018, a package of 20 Dream Elephants arrived from Tanzania. Every elephant purchased supports the cost for Milka, the oldest of the 4 children in the family, to attend post-secondary school.

What started as a simple project for a budding sewing enthusiast has blossomed into a way to start paying for a beautiful young girl’s medical school. Perhaps it can do even more than that.

One can Dream…