TOPEKA (WIBW) — Aaliyah Smith is a 16-year-old junior at Topeka West High School, she is an honors student and taking concurrent credit courses at Washburn University. Aaliyah and a few of her classmates from Topeka West participated in the Washburn Leadership Challenge event. The team received the Team Collaboration and Team Transformation awards. Aaliyah participated in the following Topeka West School activities; Westsiders dance team, drama, football and several school clubs such as: BSU, Spirit Club, Kay Club, Circle of Friends, Latinos United, Spanish Club, Girls Who Code. Aaliyah participated in Girl Scouts for about 9 years. Aaliyah had the opportunity to be part of two Girl Scout troops, one located in Topeka and the other in Kansas City. Aaliyah has been part of the Girl Scouts Teen Leadership Circle for two years. Aaliyah was involved for several years in decorating graves at the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ Leavenworth National Cemetery. Aaliyah co-hosted a body positivity workshop with her Kansas City Girl Scout troop, for teenage girls ages 12-17 and presented on the topic of anxiety.

Aaliyah has co-authored a book called “The 4C’s” which was published in the spring of 2021. In this book, she highlighted her Community Poultry Project as her contribution to Community to one of the 4C’s. Foundation leaders stand ready to honor Aaliyah for her genuine passion for helping and serving others. This will be the first international award given to Aaliyah for her project in Kenya. The Kavod Foundation will present the award in person during Aaliyah’s trip to Kenya in July 2022. Project: The gold award is the Girl Scouts’ highest achievement. To be eligible for this award, you must have earned your bronze and silver. award. The Community Poultry Project was established in Kenya in 2020. The Community Poultry Project is designed to address food insecurity and income inequality in the Makueni County region of Kenya. The objective of the project will enable women to acquire knowledge, skills and business principles transferable to their children. This project has been strategically designed for sustainability. Chickens will provide a renewable food source of meat and eggs. I will also have a solar energy component. The plan is to use the solar panels to provide power for lighting the project area as well as power to power the refrigerators that will keep the vaccines cool. Manure from the chickens will be used as fertilizer for the planted vegetable plots to provide additional food for community members. This poultry project provides food as well as products that can be exchanged for other goods and services to support their children.

Aaliyah started this project as her Girl Scout Gold Award project with the goal of improving the lives of many people. Aaliyah chose Kenya because in Girl Scouts we are taught to give hope to forgotten communities and to increase their self-esteem by creating opportunities they never thought possible. “Everyone deserves a chance and it’s up to us to find a way to help them. Kenya deserves this opportunity. Tips to Help Others Empower: Aaliyah would say “Dream big and live life without limits, the world needs you to act now!!! Whether it’s in your school, neighborhood, city, state, or maybe even another country, get busy. What people should know: Aaliyah wants people to know that the Community Poultry Project is dedicated to restoring dignity to those in need. We strive to inspire and improve the lives of those within reach of this project. Please consider making a difference by donating to the community poultry project, we would love your support. And we’re thrilled to be supporting Aaliyah Smith as our 13 News Good Kid this week!

Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved.