At only 17, Savanna Koebisch has done a few things to boast about — not that she would.
The down-to-earth Grade 12 student at Cochrane High School has launched a society, One Foot at a Time, to raise money for an orphanage in the Congo.
“(Africa) has a very special place in my heart,” said Koebisch, who has been to the continent four times.
“I enjoy the memories of the experience so I felt this was my way to give back.”
When Koebisch was 13, her father, a chiropractor, took her to the World Federation Chiropractor conference.
There, she heard a presentation from Sister Brigitte Yengo, a chiropractor, medical doctor and nun in Brazzaville, Congo. She runs an orphanage of about 50 children ages two months to 10 years old.
She also helps mentally challenged and handicapped people and runs workshops for the blind. Koebisch felt inspired and motivated to help.
In 2010, she returned to Africa and climbed the continent’s highest mountain, Mount Kilamanjaro, with the goal of raising $19,341, one dollar for each foot she climbed.
To date, Koebisch has raised $15,000 and hopes to finish her campaign before visiting again this March.
“I hope to have money raised by then or at least before (starting) university,” she said.
Koebisch has her sights set on studying international medicine at Wurzburg or Heideberg University in Germany.
And as far as her grades go, she should have no problem getting accepted. Koebisch was one of eight Cochrane High School students to ace their Math 30 exam this year.
Teacher Victoria Lozinski, said she’s never seen that many students get 100 per cent on the same exam.
She said the students were part of the honours math class, made up of 36 students who have worked together since Grade 9.
“They work together and strive for excellence,” said Lozinski.
She said because the exam was marked on a curve, getting one question wrong on the test dropped students’ grade to 95 per cent.
“Total credit goes to the kids,” she said. “They worked so hard,” she said, adding they spent eight hours on the weekend leading up to the exam coming to school to prepare.”
“I’m extremely proud,” said father, Peter Koebisch.
Anyone wishing to donate to One Foot at a Time can email [email protected].
