Denise Pelley with Bakita
Denise Pelley, 56
Volunteer, Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan
London, Ont.
Every January for the past six years, Denise Pelley, 56, packs a suitcase with small tambourines, shakers and other noisemakers and travels more than 11,000 kilometres to a town called Gordhim in Sudan to run a music camp for 250 kids. Ms. Pelley, a jazz singer, is a stalwart volunteer for Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan. After decades of internal conflict and war, and independence from North Sudan just last year, the Republic of South Sudan is in rebuild mode. Having just returned from her annual excursion, Ms. Pelley, who is a performer by night (she's opened for Aretha Franklin) and community worker by day (for Junior Achievement), is already selling CDs and holding events to fund next year's trip and visit her Sudanese family, some of whom are budding musicians.
Impact
"The music camp provides a way for kids to come together, express themselves regardless of their circumstances and see that people have not forgotten about them. Imagine 250 kids singing The More We Get Together and Waka Waka (the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup). The chorus has African lyrics – the kids love that song."
Donations
"$25 can send one child to music and art camp for one week, and this includes biscuits and water and all the supplies the kids need."
Setbacks?
"Setback, no, challenge, yes. It costs $5,000 to participate. Every year, I raise the funds or pay with my own funds."
Personal impact
"It is sad when you see people who are sick, who don't have enough food or clean water for their families, whose children spend most of the day by themselves because the mom is out looking for food. It certainly makes me appreciate what I have here in Canada and that I really don't have anything to complain about."
Dream celebrity sponsor
"Ellen DeGeneres. She has a big and generous heart, likes to make people smile and loves music and dancing. She would fit very well in Sudan!"
"On my first trip, we visited the clinic beside the compound where we stay. That was maternity day and the moms-to-be were getting checked out. The clinic wasn't equipped for delivery. A mom-to-be came in, as she was spotting. The doctor examined her, but there was nothing to be done, and she had to make the long trek to a different village. As I watched her leave, my eyes teared up thinking that she would probably lose the baby."
Personal hero
"My late son, Jason Edmonds, who died in 2000 at the age of 23 in a car crash. At the time of his death he was an aspiring actor who loved every minute of living his dream. His life and his death have taught me to love the moments and make them count."
What keeps you going?
"My family – mom, siblings, children and four grandchildren – my love for music and the memory of my son. My family is proud when I go, and relieved when I get back."
This interview has been condensed and edited.
Farah Mohamed is the President & CEO of the G(irls)20 Summit. Send suggestions for the Action Figure to Livebetter@globeandmail.com.