It's not to often you hear of a 17-year-old giving up part their summer to tackle an issue like poverty; however, that's what one Wausau East student did.
Junior, Aaron Kelly said good-bye to his lavish life here in America and flew halfway around the world to the newly formed country - Republic of South Sudan. While it's the newest country (just recognized since 2011), it also holds the unfortunate title of highest poverty. 90% of its people are living in poor conditions.
For 8 days in August, Aaron rolled up his sleeves to help bring them common things many of us take for granted - food and electricity. Aaron puts it into perspective like this - he says many families survive on as little as $2 a day. For many of us, that wouldn't even buy our morning coffee.
He says while it's not the most impressive place to live, he says the people there are working hard to develop it. He says in the past 5 years South Sudanese people are finally leaving refugee camps and returning to their villages after being involved in a civil war for 50 years.
Aaron says many of the people there put a big emphasis on education. So his church - Highland Community - has helped develop a scholarship fun that's through the care of the Community Development Foundation of Central Wisconsin.
Highland Community Church has been sending people to the same village for 5 years - 11 trips total. This was Aaron's first trip. While he has no plans as of now to return, he says he might in the future.
