Have your kids help other kids this summer: SouthFlorida.com

New nonprofit 'makes the world a better place, one child at a time'

Looking for something meaningful for your kids to do this summer? One Beautiful World is a new, all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of children. One of its main objectives is to offer education and assistance to those in need. It also provides opportunities to children to be of service to the community -- tapping into their innate desire to help.

One Beautiful World is the result of a collaboration of numerous families. The parents involved were looking for ways to allow their children, no matter how young, to help improve the world. They decided to form a nonprofit to allow them to do more and include all interested people. I spoke with Jess Cabillot, founder of OBW, and asked her to tell me more about her vision.

"One Beautiful World was formed to serve the physical, educational and moral needs of children," she said. "We accomplish our goals through programs to benefit children, like our weekly music class, and through programs that permit children to help others, like our monthly beach cleanup. Our unofficial motto is that we want to make the world a better place, one child at a time."

While facing tough times, schools and libraries have been cutting back on what they can provide to children. With the number of needy children likely to increase in the coming months, OBW hopes to fill in some of the gaps within our community.

One Beautiful World is fairly unusual in that, in addition to its adult board of directors, it also has a teen board that comes up with its own ideas for programming. The teens also help as volunteers in most projects.

"Our teen volunteers are leaders," Cabillot said. "They are not just racking up service hours; they have found an opportunity to express their natural altruism. We are looking for ways to allow our children, no matter how young, to be able to help improve the world."

It is a hard time for charities, but OBW has already shown that it can do a lot with very little money. It is volunteer-run and has no paid staff. Although OBW just incorporated in January of this year, it already has a number of programs in place. (See the sidebar for a schedule of events.) As a new nonprofit, however, it needs funding to undertake the types of programs it envisions.

One Beautiful World needs monetary donations and volunteers, and is on the lookout for new projects and ideas. To help, e-mail Cabillot at j.cabillot@one-beautiful-world.org, visit www.one-beautiful-world.org, or check out One Beautiful World on Facebook.

One Beautiful World is presenting the following programs in South Florida:
Kids Create Music
Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m.; Weston Branch Library
This weekly program introduces children ages 5 to 8 to basic music theory and classical composers. Class size is limited to 20, and tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Multicultural Book Journeys
Monthly on Mondays, 6 p.m.; the Weston Branch Library.
In this monthly book club for ages 9 to 12, children discuss literature with multicultural characters and themes.

One Beautiful Beach Cleanup
Monthly on Saturdays.
In this monthly program, children literally help make the world a better place by cleaning up local beaches. Free parking for participants; cleanup supplies are provided.

Make A Beautiful Day
Nursing Home Visits
Monthly on Saturday mornings.

Regent's Health Care
9701 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise
In this monthly program, undertaken in conjunction with the Holiday Project, children and their parents have the opportunity to visit the elderly. This is a lesson in compassion for the children. Visits from young children are meaningful and exciting to the residents. Children are encouraged to make and bring homemade cards to give to the residents. Meet at the Ice Cream Parlor for orientation. Call 954-572-4000 for directions. E-mail info@one-beautiful-world.org for more information or holidaypro@yahoo.com to confirm attendance.