CALEB NICKERSON
RENFREW March 28, 2018
A young Renfrew girl with local ties is taking an interesting route to fund a trip to Africa.
Ashlyn Kirkham, 12, attends Renfew Collegiate Insitute, which is where she learned about Free the Children, a global charity and youth empowerment organzation run by Toronto human rights activists Marc and Craig Kielburger.
Through their program Me to We, the group puts together volunteer trips to developing countries, including Kenya, which is where Kirkham is aiming to go.
“I like helping people and helping in my community but I want to start helping globally as well,” she said.

Since the age limit for the trip is 13, she will have to wait until the summer of 2019, but not one to waste time, she has found an inventive way to start raising the nearly $6,000 she estimates she will need.
“I’ve been making slime for a year but been selling it for the last two months,” she said, digging into her bag and pulling out plastic tins of multicoloured goo. “It’s just PVA glue and borax and then you can add stuff in.”
For those not familiar with this new fad in childrens entertainment, slime fills the same purpose as a stress ball, except it is obviously more malleable and can come in many different colours and scents. For those skeptical, a Google search for “slime” turns up nearly 93 million hits, featuring pages and pages of tutorials and the like.
Ashlyn’s grandmother, Lou Kirkham of Shawville, said that she is proud of Ashlyn for her industrious attitude.
“I think it’s great, she’s always been very helpful,” she said, adding that though she was nervous at first, she’s warmed up to the idea. “It’s a learning experience, it opens your eyes.”
Those looking to order slime can contact Ashlyn by email at ashlynlily@icloud.com.