Small Actions, Giant Impact: How BranchOut! Mentors Braved Rejection & Built Community for Girls’ Education

"Whether it's walking up to strangers in a bustling mall or serving lemonade by a local pool, leadership is about stepping out of your comfort zone for a cause bigger than yourself."

This past week, BranchOut! students proved that geographical distance is no barrier to making a difference. From the suburbs of Virginia to the neighborhood parks of Newton, Massachusetts, our mentors took grassroots fundraising into their own hands to support the Dunstan Wai Foundation and the underserved girls it serves.

The goal? Raise vital funds for young and orphaned women in South Sudan and Northern Uganda—where illiteracy rates reach up to 81%. Knowing that just $650 funds an entire year of schooling, supplies, and tutoring for one girl, our teams realized that real impact requires more than good intentions—it requires action.

Part 1: Sweet Success in Newton, Massachusetts 🍋

On Friday, July 24th, Chloe Chi, a rising freshman at Newton North High School, led a team of four and set up a lemonade stand at Albemarle Field, right next to a busy local pool in Newton, MA. Armed with ice-cold lemonade, informational flyers, and enthusiasm, the team welcomed around 40 community members, including friends who dropped by after hearing about the cause. While each cup was priced modestly at $3, something inspiring happened: once passersby learned about the Dunstan Wai Foundation's mission, many donated far more than the asking price.

By the end of the day, the Newton team had raised $100—proving that every cup counts.

Student Reflection: "I learned that if we come together as a community, we can make a real difference, even with a small fundraiser. Helping others made my team feel accomplished and proud of ourselves. We had a great time and are always ready to step up for a good cause!" - Chloe Chi

Part 2: Braving Rejection at Tysons Corner, Virginia 🌯

Meanwhile, in Virginia, 15 BranchOut! student mentors from Virginia and Maryland gathered at Chipotle for a scheduled fundraising social. Led by Mabelle Liu and Alekhya Hota, rising seniors from Marriotts Ridge High School and Madison High School, respectively, the team realized they could do more than just buy their own dinners, so they split up and actively pitched the fundraiser to the public across three main fronts:

• Inside the Restaurant: Mentors approached customers waiting in line, explaining how their dinner order could directly fund a girl’s education.

• Outside on the Plaza: Students struck up conversations with passersby, sharing stories about the foundation's work.

• Inside the Mall: Teams walked through Tysons Corner Center, distributing digital order codes to shoppers.

Facing Rejection Head-On

Asking strangers for support is intimidating for high school students. Many shoppers brushed them off or walked past without eye contact. But instead of giving up, our mentors leaned in.

They learned to reframe rejection not as a setback but as a natural part of advocacy. Every "no" brought them closer to a "yes"—and when kind strangers stopped to listen and placed an order using the fundraiser code, the reward was unmatched. Henry Jiang shared, "It was a really fun experience, and I really enjoyed meeting my team in person. It was scary approaching random people, but it felt good afterward since it supported a good cause. I really appreciated the initiative to support the education of South Sudanese girls."

Caitlyn Kim echoed the experience, stating, "The Chipotle Fundraiser reminded me how much I enjoy working with other people toward a shared goal. Seeing people support our cause, even just by listening to what the fundraiser was supporting, showed me that raising awareness about education for girls in South Sudan is just as important as raising money because every conversation has the potential to inspire someone to help. Even though it was tough to get rejections, it honestly made me more motivated to get the next person to say yes."

Leadership Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Whether pouring lemonade in Newton or starting conversations with strangers in Virginia, our mentors gained lessons that no textbook can teach:

• Community Synergy: Discovering that small, local efforts compound into life-changing global support.

• Resilience & Courage: Learning that facing rejection head-on is a crucial step in standing up for what matters.

• Purpose-Driven Joy: Experiencing the profound sense of accomplishment that comes from working alongside friends for a higher purpose.

Student Reflection: "I was grateful to see how willing people were to listen and support our mission in helping South Sudanese and Ugandan girls receive the education they deserve. I hope we can continue building collective support for these young African women through our many other fundraising initiatives so individual contributions can foster real impact." - Mabelle Liu

A Heartfelt Thank You!

We are immensely proud of our student leaders in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland who joined us and turned simple summer days into masterclasses in community outreach, bravery, and teamwork.

A huge thank you to everyone who bought a cup of lemonade, ordered a burrito, or took a moment to listen. Together, we are helping open doors to education and a brighter future for young women thousands of miles away!

Want to learn more about our student-led initiatives or host a fundraiser in your city? Visit the BranchOut! website to get involved.

Student Reflection: "The experience really helped me 'branch out' by forcing me to step outside my comfort zone in many ways. It was amazing when people agreed to help the cause and supported the initiative to help young women in need." - Siddhant Srikumar