Many young people don’t realize how valuable the education they receive is until it’s too late. For others, though, working hard to acquire a solid education during their formative years is a top priority and they realize just how important it is.

This message came through loud and clear recently when two young adults from Ishpeming teamed up to help others less fortunate to attend school.

They are Ishpeming natives Symantha Misale, 20, and Cali Millette, 21, who started a local chapter of “Pencils of Promise.” Headquartered in New York, the organization works to improve the education of impoverished children around the world by building schools and supporting sustainable education systems.

After hearing about the organization, Misale and Millette were inspired to become involved and created the Upper Peninsula Pencils of Promise Club.

Their goal is to raise $25,000 – the cost of a new school – and the club has been busy fundraising since. Included have been a partnership with a Michigan candle company to sell candles, a charity yard sale where they sold donated items, holding a raffle at Italian Fest of items donated by local businesses and a “Blind Date With a Book” sale.

The club has also recently partnered with Home of Hope in Kenya, which is an orphanage that is home to abandoned HIV/AIDS positive children. Their partnership includes the selling of bracelets that are made by the women of the Samburu Tribe in Northern Kenya.

These efforts brought in a little more than $5,000, with more events planned to reach their goal.

We certainly want to acknowledge the club’s efforts at helping to bring a good education to those in need, and hope the local community will continue to support their efforts.