St. Michael Man Making a Difference in Africa, Beyond

People around St. Michael and Albertville know Funwi Tita.

They’ve maybe never met the young father, a native of Cameroon, and former worker with a Washington, D.C. non-profit.

But they know him. Because he’s there after almost every other “Friendly City Days” garage sale, or neighborhood rummage, collecting clothes and shoes.

“It started with me just asking a few friends, neighbors and such, if they would donate,” Tita said. “Now, I’m pretty busy around the clock in the summer.”

Tita is a St. Michael resident now, and founder of Making A Difference International.

All of those clothes and shoes he collects after the rummage sales are done? They’re shipped, with Tita’s close supervision, to his native Africa–specifically Uganda, Zambia and even Rwanda.

Tita’s mission started two years ago, when he was still with that Virginia-based non-profit. He was on a trip to Uganda, where he saw scores of children running around in bare feet.

The hookworm, he recalled, spreads one of the most violent illnesses in Africa. The worm embeds into the feet, where it can enter a body.

“The kids, they are not looking where they’re going, you know?” he said. “They’re out on the street, begging. It’s a very hostile environment. The mortality rate is very high, one of the worst in the world back in 2009. But just a pair of shes, I thought would make a huge difference.”

Tita decided to give his sneakers–an extra pair he had packed–to a man he had befriended during his trip. The reaction was pure elation.

If one person, Tita thought, might react that way, think of if he returned with a bag full of clothes and shoes the next time.

And Making a Difference International (MADI) was born.

“It has grown exponentially,” Tita, who also works a full-time job with Wright County now, said.

He has made trips in 2009 and two in 2010. This year, he’ll make his second trip next month.

But, his mission is in a bit of peril.

For the past two years, Tita has rented the empty Pelco Machining space in St. Michael. The owner, however, has sold the building, and Tita has to be out (including special bailing equipment that packs up all those clothes) by the end of the month.

“It was a good fit,” said city administrator Bob Derus. “The owner needed something, and Funwi, who is just a great guy with a big heart, needed the space.”

The arrangement has been great, but Tita knew this day might come.

“We’re looking for a donation,” Tita said. “Because we are so new as a non-profit, we don’t have the money to rent space. But we need room for the clothing, shoes and the machine.”

Tita is working to make MADI a full-time thing. He’s filed for 501 status. He wants to organize a board of directors. He’s shown that this mission can actually help people on the ground overseas.

“Maybe this is my calling,” he said. “But we’re still working. We’re still getting it off the ground.”

For information about how you can help, visit the MADI website. Or, call Funwi Tita at 612-578-9461.