Sylvia Allen, president of Allen Consulting, was quite content teaching at New York University, traveling around the world doing motivational seminars, and running her public relations and marketing business in Holmdel, New Jersey. Having taught in China, India, Ireland, Japan, Okinawa, Iceland, Canada, and throughout most of the United States, she was sure that was how the rest of her life would play out. Little did she know that a trip to Uganda, Africa, in 2003 would totally change her life!

Ten years ago, Sylvia was invited to Uganda, Africa, by one of her NYU students. While there, she was invited by the children of the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary and Day Care School to be their grandmother. She took the request seriously and upon returning to the United States, she formed Sylvia's Children, a 501(c)(3) organization under the United States IRS code.

The school has grown dramatically in the last eight years, going from 439 children (of which 136 were orphans) to 1,000 (of which 250 are orphans). The school is based on the British model and starts with baby class, moves up to top class, and then P-1 to P-7. The goal is to educate the children and create a series of African entrepreneurship businesses that will allow the school to be self-sustaining and allow Sylvia's Children to take this model and replicate it in another village.

In the ten years Sylvia has been with the school, all children have taken their P-7 exams and graduated. If they are sponsored orphans, the school has asked its sponsors to continue working with them at the next level—S-1 to S-4. The school currently has 41 orphans in S-1 through S-4 with four ready to go on to S-5 and S-6! It will continue with its orphan support as the others graduate.

"This experience has changed my life… for the better. I have learned to love and be loved, to give and to receive graciously, and to know that I can make a difference in a child's life. I also have the joy of my children being part of the organization. All else pales in comparison." —Sylvia Allen

We invite you to visit Sylvia Children's online at http://www.sylviaschildren.org and get up-to-date information at http://sylviaschildren.blogspot.com. To get on Sylvia's mailing list, just e-mail Sylvia@sylviaschildren.org. She would love to have you experience the same joy she has had in working with these beautiful, loving, caring children, who want nothing more than to hold your hand or sit on your lap. Please help Sylvia continue to make a difference in these children's lives.