'Without Hope, They Have Nothing'

Four years ago, Mary Ellen Carter took a trip to Malawi, Africa, where her husband, federal judge David Carter, was involved with judicial education.

The Laguna Beach resident said she had read about the extreme poverty there—specifically, that it was one of the four poorest countries in the world—so she wanted to donate some medical and educational supplies to the schools during her visit. 

“While I was there, I spent a few hours with Sarah, one of the village grade-school teachers,” Carter recalls.  “I was overwhelmed by the poverty and amazed to learn that simple supplies that we take for granted are such an enormous gift for these children.

“Even pencils are so scarce that students usually break them in half and share them.”

Equally overwhelmed by the gratitude she was shown for what she considered to be a modest contribution, Carter felt compelled upon her return to the States to further help the teachers and students in southeast Africa.  

Through her ongoing correspondence with Sarah, Carter learned that her donation had attracted new students to the school, which further inspired her to keep giving.

“I was amazed to learn that these small gifts could make the difference between students staying in school or dropping out,” she says.  “I realized what we were really giving them was hope.”

In 2008, she founded Direct Connections to Africa, a nonprofit whose mission, she says, is to help provide villages in Malawi with educational supplies, scholarships that enable children to continue elementary and secondary education, creating and fostering recreational programs, promoting job development, and helping to meet medical needs by directly connecting an individual from the village with a member of our own community.

It is her hope, Carter says, to help move the country forward, change a mind set and save a village.

“I know a lot of people [protest this kind of foreign aid] when we have so many problems right here in our own country, but my view is that when a government can’t support it’s own people, it’s our job to step in.

“Without hope, they have nothing.”

Since its inception, DCTA has raised $111,000 and grown to about 60 volunteers who assist with its many facets including fundraising, supplies, recreational programs, medical aid and job training.

With the help of the community’s donations, Carter says, DCTA has been able to provide more than 50 scholarships, college financial aid, and to build three schools, an educational center that fosters teacher-training and two modern medical clinics.

“Health care in Malawi is nearly nonexistent,” she says.  “Through our clinics, we have volunteers who share extensive HIV education throughout the region, and also offer mother and baby classes, which extended needed advice that was previously unavailable.”

To further enhance physical and mental health, and to encourage positive social interaction, DCTA set up an intramural sports program, which provides young boys and girls with the opportunity to participate in soccer, netball and volleyball tournaments.

As a career counselor, Carter wanted to establish job training to the underprivileged, as well as business consulting to companies that are struggling.

“By further making a college education available for impoverished students, our organization is creating new professionals every day,” she says.

Through the organization’s Sponsor a Child program, donors can support a child for $300 a year, which helps pay for school tuition and exam fees.  If they so choose, they can correspond with their child (or children) to learn how their donations are positively impacting lives in Malawi.

DCTA recently hosted a Drag Queen Bingo Fundraiser to raise money for education in Malawi, where the organization made about  $10,000 through ticket sales, luxury auction items, and proceeds from organic jewelry made by women in Africa.

“It was a huge success,” Carter says.  “People donated great prizes and auction items, including a five-hour boat cruise, sporting events, hotel stays and spa and fitness packages.

“Their generosity is what made it such a success, and the good food, games and fact that it was affordable made it a fun time for all.”

For more information about DCTA, to volunteer or donate, or to learn about future fundraising events, visit dctafrica.net.