See that young man in the water, with waders holding a camera? That is Uriah. Kindred Connections has known him for 6 years, and during this time volunteers and staff have been supporting him. When we first met him he was at the teen shelter (the Cascade Youth & Family Center LOFT) and through God’s goodness he was matched with a wonderful Host Family who considers Uriah to be family.
Through grit, determination, perseverance (along with support and guidance of his Host Family, KC staff, and teachers) Uriah has overcome many hurdles in his young life. He has made school a priority, he has embraced extracurricular activities that are healthy for him, he has worked steady jobs, and he always surprises us with new adventures.
His latest adventure is getting into photography which benefits his major in Journalism. This is a wonderful major, but it also has become a way to make extra income. He recently photographed the Eugene polar plunge, all by invitation of the School of Journalism per his professor. This last weekend he photographed a cheer/gymnastic event. It is wonderful to see his creativity and joy in his photos. Here are some of his photos!
Another adventure he is embarking on is a study abroad program in Spain. The trip will be such an amazing experience for him. The program overview boasts a great quality of life for students. This part of Spain is incredibly safe and ideal for students to immerse themselves in the culture. Uriah will have the opportunity to master his skills in interviewing and story development, from the art of calculated questions to the task of listening actively and creatively to one’s answers. The goal of the program is to learn how to report from anywhere transcending language barriers. This program will get Uriah 8 credits toward his goal of graduating in 2026.
In total, for the program, he is raising $9,000. He has applied to different scholarships and is waiting to hear the results. Even with the scholarship help, if he is awarded some, he will have a good amount to raise. Kindred Connections is hoping to raise funds to help cover his travel to and from Spain. His flight cost roundtrip is $1500. If you want to donate $5, $25, $50, or more to his flight please click on the link below. All proceeds will go directly to the study abroad program.
Thank you for caring for these families through prayer, support, gifts mentoring and more!