In America, education is often taken for granted. The majority of American children have access to school in one form or another up until their senior year in high school. In less developed countries, however, education is not as accessible.

In a fundraising event at Chosen Yogurt on Friday, students have the opportunity to aid a missionary to give children of such countries a chance at education.

Brittany Sally, a 26-year-old missionary from Fresno, has a plan to help kids in a couple of these countries achieve the kind of education they need to find success in life. She, along with her friend Heather Lichti, are going to the small African city of Mgambeni, Swaziland, in order to teach children. Sally received the desire to help educate the kids of this country from a previous mission?s trip.

“Last year when we were in Swaziland something that I noticed was that education was something that they really want,” Sally said, “It?s not necessarily available to everyone because it?s expensive.”

Since that time, Sally has been working with an organization called Advocates for Children (AFC) to help her organize their trip. The non-profit helps sponsor children who want to go to school but are unable to do so. Sally explains how she will be able to partner with the local schools in order to help the children:

“Swaziland will be an after-school program where anyone can come, even if they are adults,” Sally said. “They can come get some help. They are starting a library so they can read with them and really help them get an education.”

Before going to Swaziland, they will also visit Mai, Tailand, where they will help teach English in some of the local colleges.

Both of these opportunities come at a cost. Between the two of the trips, they need about $13,000 dollars. By participating in the “Chosen Fundraiser” however, students can help make a difference. On Friday, February 21, between 3-10 p.m., Chosen Yogurt will be donating 25 percent of its proceeds towards the trip. Students just have to bring one of their fliers and the percentage will be given off of anything that they buy.

“It?s to fund our trip so that we can go because it is so expensieve,” Sally said. “There are also resources that we may need to purchase and take with us and that?s a part of that cost. We are also accepting donations of books at the Chosen event. And in addition we are accepting clothing.”

Beyond the tangible and intellectual benefits the kids will be receiving, Sally says the most important part of the mission is giving kids more opportunities.

“It gives them more opportunity.” Sally said, “Here [in America] if you have an education you can do other things later on in life. It?s the same kind of deal for them. For some of them, learning how to read means that they can read the Bible. A lot of them don?t necessarily have that ability.”

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @JohnathanNyberg. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather.

For more features, read the Feb. 19 article Academic advisor experiences pregnancy in the workplace.