When visiting Mt. Kilimanjaro on a Scouting Trip Carter Evan-Alden Hill, Eagle Scout, Troop 175 struck with the desperate conditions at the Mkombozi Centre for Street Children in Moshi, Tanzania and became determined to do something about it. When Carter is determined to do something few things stand in his way. His determination and success was recently recognized the regional National Eagle Scout Association when he was selected as the regional winner of the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.
Initially, Carter’s project appeared straightforward; to collect school, recreation and other needed goods and to ship them to the Mkombozi Centre. Along the way Carter encountered and overcame several obstacles (the change/obstacle section of his Service Project document is very impressive). These changes included:
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Custom duties that threatened to overwhelm his project – Carter’s solution was to go to the United Nations, meet with the Tanzanian ambassador and get the duties waived.
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Cargo thieves made it unlikely that the goods would reach the Mkombozi Centre – On the recommendation of the Ambassador Carter and his father traveled with the goods to Tanzania and oversaw delivery.
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Airfreight costs changed significantly from the original estimates threatening the entire project – Carter negotiated on the spot with the airlines at the departure point for a much improved rate.
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Transportation from the airport to the Mkombozi Centre was still a question as they left New York – In London Carter described his project to a ticket agent who happened to be from Tanzania. The ticket agent was so impressed with Carter and his plans that he provided both transportation and a place to stay.
Regional Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. Regional NESA committees will select one winner for each region on or before March 31 each year. Regional award winners will be considered for the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. The three regional winners who do not win the national award will receive $500, to be available for their future educational purposes or to attend a national or international Scouting event or facility. The local councils of those three regional winners (not the national winner) also will receive a $500 award. All regional winners will receive a certificate and a gold device for the Eagle Scout embroidered knot. The national winner and his local council will receive only the national prize as described below.
Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. One winner will be selected by April 15 of each year, in time to be announced at the National Annual Meeting in May. The national award winner will receive a certificate, a silver device for the Eagle embroidered knot, and a cash award of $2,500 that will be available for the Scout’s future educational purposes or for him to attend a national or international Scouting event or venue. The national award winner’s local council will also receive a $2,500 award.
