Although some people may stick to doing school work, playing video games, or doing their daily tasks, Kiara Rascon and her sister Kaili decided to create an organization to help people from Guatemala and to feed families. After Covid-19 affected many people around the world, Kiara and Kaili decided to help out in the community. Kiara Rascon a Junior at Kennedy High School, Kaili Rascon a Sophomore at Oxford Academy, and Mario Valdespino a Freshman at Anaheim High School are making a difference in their community.

Anaheim Exclusivo had the opportunity to interview these students about the Kika Organization. Mario who has known Kiara and Kaili since they were little was not aware of the Kika organization until his mom brought it to his attention, after this he decided to join. Kiara, Kaili, and Mario are church friends that met at Anaheim First Christian Church but then moved to River Church about 3 years ago. They heard Pastor Dante Gebel talk about how “Guatemala is the number 1 country in Latin America that suffered from Chronic Child Malnutrition.” After Kiara heard about what is happening in Guatemala, she realized that “especially during quarantine a lot of people were suffering because they couldn’t go out and do their jobs and gain their income.” Covid-19 has affected many people in many ways and these three students are trying to help out as much as they can. Their inspiration to begin this organization came from their pastor. Kiara also mentions that her pastor also delivers food to people from all around the world.

Before the idea of the Kika Organization began, Kaili stated that she and her sister Kiara, “did contact local places in our community like shelters, and other places but they seemed like they didn’t need our help.” Kiara noticed that there was a need due to quarantine, not only in the community but all over the world, and wanted to be that change for communities that don’t have access to food. After they began the Kika Organization, they decided to start Kika Clubs in schools that they are currently active.

Some parents may or may not support their children with their ideas, but Kiara and Kaili’s parents were very supportive of their idea. Kiara said that her mom helped them from the beginning because their aunt helps deliver the food. Her aunt is part of an organization in Guatemala called Ayudanos a Ayudar. Kiara thanks her mom for allowing her to have access to communication with other organizations as well as the chance to send food from California to Guatemala. Kiara indicated that here in Anaheim, Kika Organization “raises money, raises awareness, and then they send the money over to the organization Ayudanos a Ayudar in Guatemala and they can deliver the food that is needed.” Kika Organization is partnering with Ayudanos a Ayudar and two other organizations in Guatemala but is mostly involved with Ayudanos a Ayudar.

Kika Organization is working to make it a legal organization so people from all over the world can help and donate money to help feed children in Guatemala. The organization is open to any type of donation anyone would like to give. Kiara, Kaili, and Mario’s goal is to have people think of the Kika Organization as something that helped these families leave the cycle of poverty. The Kika Organization also wants to educate these families about the importance of schooling. Kika is also working with a school in Guatemala and that school only has two classrooms and two teachers. One classroom is for Elementary and the other classroom is for Preschool.

Kika tries to get families food that is nutritious because they believe that other organizations provide families with the basics which are carbs that will only fill them up, which is not necessarily healthy. Ayudanos a Ayudar, is working along with Kika Organization and making sure families get fruits and vegetables. Mario points out that he has now noticed “how spoiled we are” and how we have so many benefits that a lot of other places don’t have. He also wants to help as much as he can to make a change. The three students have opened up Kika Clubs at four other schools, Anaheim, Kennedy, Cypress, and Pacifica High School. Kaili said that next year they will work on starting a Kika Club in Oxford Academy which was not possible this year due to them having a club rush at an earlier date.

Kiara said, “We are trying our best and would really appreciate help from anyone and large corporations to give us the big step in being successful.” During quarantine, they are beginning by working with malnourished children and families but after quarantine, they hope to help with medication, proper shelter, and bags of goods.

Kiara told us a story about an elderly woman whose bed was made out of wooden sticks but Kika Organization was able to come together with Ayudanos a Ayudar and two other organizations to not only provide materials to create a stronger shelter for the families but to also help them improve their living environment. This is why Kika wants to expand to help more and more people in Guatemala. Kika Organization’s motto is “Juntos podemos hacer una diferencia, ” “Together We Can Make A Difference.”

Kika Organization also has merchandise. Their T-Shirts at $25, $5 go to making more T-Shirts and the other $20 helps feed a child for one month in Guatemala; they also have T-Shirts with wings in the back which are $30; as well as necklaces which are $20 and 100% of the profit goes to the feeding children for a month. The merchandise doesn’t stop there, they also sell Kika Masks which sell for $15 and $5 goes to making more masks but the rest goes to families in Guatemala, making two masks helps feed a child for a month. In the end if you purchase a necklace, shirt or a mask you will be feeding a child for a whole month. You can follow them on Instagram at (Kika.organization) and be a part of this life-changing organization. Kika is glad to make a change in society sooner than later.