Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Eva Watson

Patch Whiz of the Week: Eva Watson

○ Age: 12

○ School:

○ Accomplishment: Three years ago, Eva launched “Chicks for Change,” a group of girls who raise funds to support the Arlington Academy of Hope, a school in Uganda, Africa. Each February, the girls raise funds by selling home-made dog treats in order to send a Ugandan girl to school there – this year, they baked 3,600 treats and raised $1,200. Eva is also raising funds for children to be treated for malaria at a clinic on the school’s grounds as a mitzvah project for her upcoming bat mitzvah. The headmaster of the school even paid Eva and the girls in the group a visit to thank them for their efforts. “The founders of AAH are really inspiring,” Eva said.

○ Key to Awesomeness:  Working towards a measurable goal was a motivating factor for the girls, according to Eva’s mom, Julie. Each year, the girls know they need to raise $300 to send the student they sponsor to school, and this year, that number was bumped up to $1,000 because the student entered secondary school. “It’s a very empowering for our girls and also for the girls [in Uganda] to know these girls are doing it,” Julie said.