Not many 13-year-olds can say they’re making a difference. Marie Njoh, founder of Chains for Change, hopes to break that mold.
Njoh’s organization fundraises to support children with cerebral palsy and disabled veterans who cannot afford prosthetics. She sells unique, handmade bracelets and speaks at local venues to raise awareness.
“What motivated me was all of the special needs children at my school who also needed more help than the others,” Njoh affirmed.
She started by collecting donations from family and friends to buy bracelet-making supplies in late 2022. By the start of the next year, Njoh presented her product for the Shriners Club of Poplar Bluff.
“The feedback was very positive and it motivated me to do more,” she recalled.
Balancing the busy life of a teen poses a challenge, but Njoh budgets her time between homework, free time and building her fundraiser. On occasion, her mother and brothers pitch in to craft more bracelets.
According to Njoh, her peers are impressed with her work and have high hopes for her future. Once she reaches her initial fundraising goal of $5,000, she will make her first donation to the Shriners Hospital of St. Louis.
“My goal is to reach $20,000 by the end of my junior year in May 2026,” Njoh stated.
Her bracelets are available for sale at Spencer Tire Shop, Bluff Town Cravings, Sacred Heart School, Poplar Bluff Junior High School, and on her Facebook page. Njoh can ship the items for an additional $5.
Of the proceeds, 75% goes toward her charitable enterprise while 25% will contribute to her future college education.
“People are surprised by my project because I am 13 and it is unexpected for a teenager my age to do something like this,” she recalled.
Njoh’s organization can be found on Facebook at Chains for Change by Marie.