Oliv Widjaja, Create for Kids officer and junior

Knowing that this club is new this year, what inspired you to start it?

Well, actually one night (co-president and junior) Rachel Lehner actually went out and contacted all four of us, the co-presidents right now. All four of us are co-presidents right now and she actually found this idea on social media, and she thought it would be a really great idea to start a chapter. She thought it would be a really fun idea to make cards together as friends and participate in this organization. And then I kind of just said, ‘Why don’t we start a new chapter at Carmel High School?’ So that’s how we kind of started it this year.

What is the purpose of this club?

The purpose of this club is to basically cheer up pediatric patients, so basically what we’re doing is we will make cards with encouraging messages and (then) we’re going to donate it to local pediatric hospitals. And the whole point of it is to brighten up kids’ days because, as you know, being in a hospital is not always the best way to spend your days, but we hope that we can at least put a smile on kids’ faces.

What does a typical meeting look like?

A typical meeting will usually start with an announcement, usually, we’re going to start with a slideshow and just talk about what we’re going to do for the day, and then the rest of the time we’re mostly just going to be working on making cards. It’s mostly just laid back, chill, working on art with friends and doing it for a good cause.

Rachel Lehner, Create for Kids officer and junior

What does this club do?

So the goal of Create for Kids is to make art that inspires kids. During meetings, we make cards and little art kits that get donated to hospitals. Create for Kids is an organization dedicated to promoting creativity and bringing inspiration to children in hospital settings and underfunded communities. We believe that creating art has the power to bring joy and hope to children across the globe. Our organization understands the importance of fostering imagination and creativity, and we encourage promoting a positive and uplifting environment. 

What are you hoping to gain from this club?

From the club, I’m mostly just hoping to gain leadership and collaborative experience. I’m also looking to support and contribute to Carmel as a community in general. Through my participation and leadership in the club Create for Kids I hope to make a lasting impact on our community through the art we’re sharing. Through this experience, I hope to gain skills that will set me up to be a leader in future groups and projects.

What do you do with your role as an officer?

My club officer role is basically treasurer. I hold on to cards and money, (and) sometimes I communicate with our sponsor and buy art supplies and materials. There’s not a ton for the club role. We basically split it four ways, so we’re all co-founders, but we’re in charge of a few specific things each.