Kenan Pala was ten years old when he was running with his dad on a beach. They came across a sick baby seal that people all around were trying to help by providing blankets, calling shelters, notifying nearby park rangers, etc. On the drive home, he saw a sick person on the side of the road, no one helping the individual. This struck him and caused him to reach out to soup kitchens and other nonprofits that address homelessness, but everywhere he turned, he was rejected because of his young age.
Still driven to help improve the lives of homeless people, Pala recruited his family and friends to help him organize and put together volunteer events where people of any age could help, but mostly aimed at giving kids opportunities to volunteer. He called this venture Kids4Community.
One challenge he faced was getting people to come to his events. However, he started posting about his venture on Facebook, social media, and got some press that got filtered through Google. Word of mouth was also a big factor in his business’ growth and popularity. Another challenge was not knowing how to organize successful events, so for some time, volunteers were confused about what they were signing up for or what they were supposed to be doing.
Some of the main events Kids4Community puts on 5ks that raise money for local charities targeting homelessness. They also hosted a back-to-school event that distributed backpacks filled with things like with school supplies, food, clothing, and hygiene kits.
Kenan Pala is inspiring because he experienced a problem and decided it was his mission to provide a solution to that problem. He worked to overcome challenges like lack of attendance and kept problem solving to create a successful and effective nonprofit business.
That is so cool that his age did not stop him from creating a business that has such a positive impact. I love how you highlighted the challenges he faced. Starting a business is not easy, especially at such a young age. He noticed a problem, and went out to find a solution. Great job on this post!