Kelli Sasser: Co-founder, One Hundred Days

By Caroline Cox

Kelli Sasser says she felt “compelled by Christ” to help the people of Rwanda rebuild their lives. During the Rwandan genocide in 1994, nearly one million people were killed in one hundred days – nearly 20 percent of the country’s population. The government and military both supported the genocide, and the small African nation was left in shambles.

Fast-forward to 2003, when Rwandan pastor Simon Nziramkenga met Sasser and her husband Scott, a university physician, and explained how access to healthcare was a dire issue. Thus, the nonprofit One Hundred Days was born. While Sasser’s focus is on building a hospital in Kigali, her ongoing mission is to provide healing to the people of Rwanda – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

PINK: Where did you acquire capital to start your organization?

Kelli Sasser: Almost all of our funding comes from friends and family members who have “caught a vision” of how we can offer our core values to people who are in life-threatening need. Our core values include trusted partnerships, sustainable solutions, holistic transformation, passionate service and transforming beauty. Friends fueled by trust and friendship have helped build a community – here and in Rwanda. We have had several multi-thousand dollar gifts, but the majority has accrued in very small donations closer to $100. We have raised more than $300,000.

PINK: How does your organization improve the community?

CK: Out of every 10 children in Rwanda, one will not reach his or her fifth birthday. Half of HIV/AIDS patients receive no treatment. Medications to treat easily solved [illnesses] are not available. Children are dying from preventable diseases. We’re building the first dedicated pediatric facility in Rwanda and several surrounding countries. In the U.S., we’re helping connect resources and skills of people in our community with needs in the Rwandan community.

PINK: What is the Million Kid Movement?

CK: This movement helps American children in three ways: they get to be significant givers to an important project, they meet real-life heroes, and they learn about another culture. Our goal is to have a million kids give one dollar, find one friend and build one hospital. Almost any American child can find one dollar to give. If she finds a friend who can also find one dollar, then we can raise $2 million. That is more than enough.