Mary Ellen Carter

I am CEO and founder of the nonprofit Direct Connections to Africa.

We supply educational and medical needs to rural villages in Malawi, Africa. I apply for small grants and talk to individuals and groups about sponsoring students and teachers there in secondary school and college. Several of my friends, who are doctors, have provided medical care.

My husband was asked to come to Malawi on a business trip and I was invited. Knowing how poor the country is, I brought along school supplies and over-the-counter medicine. While he was working, I had a driver drive me to a village to drop off the supplies I had brought. I was captivated and moved by the poverty and their needs and how hard the people were trying to improve their lives.

I started sending boxes of supplies to women who wanted to start a pre-school. Her pre-school grew from 7 to 200. Others wanted to have this direct connection and my efforts evolved into a nonprofit. I was a career counselor and use many of my skills for this work. I also supervise volunteers.

My friends thought I was crazy because this was in the middle of the recession and no one even knew where Malawi was located. It has remained a strong grassroots nonprofit.

I see the impact of our work in so many things. The building of wells has saved thousands of lives. My friends who are doctors volunteering their time has provided much needed medical help. Sponsoring students through secondary and college has changed their lives in a different direction. I have helped build two educational centers that provided numerous classroom teaching for many subjects. I started a recreational program that keeps students out of trouble. All of this helps keep students in school, which leads to better futures.

The valuable experience and wisdom that is acquired over a lifetime can be turned into action that helps our fellow human beings.