Stone Soup - Media Reviews - Single and Savvy

The Grand Rapids Press - May, 2002

By Kym Reinstadler
Teen's service to others will be recognized

A local young woman has earned a leadership honor and will be included in a book about charitable, heroic youths. By the time Korina Smith graduated from Saugatuck High School in 2001, she had completed 16 mission trips to Third World countries, including three "Teens For Humanity" missions she organized and took classmates on.

Now that she's 19 and in college at California State University, Smith is continuing to involve peers in mission work under a more grown-up moniker: INSPIRE.

The efforts have captured the attention of The Stone Soup Institute, a leadership foundation that assists people in building a more peaceful and sustainable world.

The institute has selected 19-year-old Smith as one of the world's top 100 "teen heroes."

The story of Smith's passion for teaching American youths how to think and love globally through helping less fortunate people will be published in "Stone Soup for the Teenage World," a book filled with life-changing stories of kindness and courageous acts intended to promote good citizenship and public service.

Venerable newsman ,Walter Cronkite is writing the forward for the book, which will be ceremoniously published Sept. 11, 2003.

"Korina is amazing," said Marianne Larned, chairwoman of the Stone Soup Institute. "She has demonstrated over and over again how much can be accomplished when everybody pitches in."

Larned also appointed Smith to the institute's four-person International Youth Council, which will help her research and select stories to be published.

Smith is the daughter of Nancy Smith of Saugatuck and Mark Smith of Holland. She was nominated by MediSends, a Dallas organization that donates medical supplies for some of her missions.

"The institute takes its name from the folk tale "Stone Soup," which is about a hungry traveler: who tells villagers he can, make delicious soup from a stone. The traveler gets each family to donate a little something for the soup. The result is a delicious feast for all.

"Historically, the idealism, energy and vision of young people has sparked wonderful changes in the world;" Larned said. "By spotlighting these stories, we hope to give young people a platform for their voices to the heard and an opportunity to share their ideas with millions of others around the world."

Smith, who just returned from a 10-day mission to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, said she hopes the stories show every young person that they have the power to make positive change. Smith went on her first mission trip to Brazil at age 15. There; she met Natalie Alhonte of Brooklyn, and the two became fast friends because of a shared desire to enlist peers of varying backgrounds in helping impoverished peoples.

The two girls founded Teens For Humanity, then INSPIRE, and jointly planned many mission trips.

Alhonte, also 19, is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., majoring in international development.

Smith, who is majoring in international relations, said she and Alhonte have "built-in radar" for connecting with other young people who feel deeply about making the world a better place.

Smith and Alhonte work on the Internet to line up places in Third World countries where their group can be of service.

Sometimes, they get referrals from Airline Ambassadors International, a humanitarian organization for airline employees. Smith's father is an American Airlines pilot.

Smith said she spends about two hours each day coordinating twice-a-year missions, organizing students and communicating with their parents. "It's become my social life," she said.

The group does limited fund raising. The young people, generally, pay their own way.

Smith was home earlier this month visiting family, but now is back in California, working With Larned on the book.

In August she will leave for a nine-month study program in southern France. Smith is eager to learn French as well as she speaks Spanish so she can begin scheduling mission trips to French- speaking areas of Africa.

Smith hopes to one day lead a non-profit international humanitarian organization.