Encouragement From Campus-App State Student's Master Thesis Leads to Aid for Tanzania

Jake Gentry traveled to Tanzania in 2008 to conduct research for his master's thesis about the impact of refugee camps on their host communities. Emotionally touched by the many abandoned children in the camps, Gentry and his friends started a non-profit organization that supports orphanages becoming self-sufficient and sustainable.

Their organization, called Orphans to Ambassadors, provides existing orphanages with sustainable technologies and teaches the children and local community how to use them so they have the ability and empowerment to rise out of poverty.

"Along with providing sustainable technologies, we want the children to learn about these technologies, how to install them, operate them and maintain them," said Gentry, who earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in geography from Appalachian. He now serves as the organization's president. "We want these children to have unique skills to contribute back to society as the green revolution moves through Africa."

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