Ellie is eleven years old and attends sixth grade in Peoria Heights, Illinois.  She loves to write, run, swim, play volleyball, hang out with friends, and of course, knit!  She learned about Rwanda from Immaculee Ilibagiza and wanted to find a way to help people in Rwanda from the United States.  Thinking that making hats with yarn made in Rwanda, Ellie has brought to life her quote from a family roadtrip, "You're never too young to change a life on the other side of world."  

Now that KidKnits is expanding to support women in Chile as well as Rwanda, Ellie is excited to travel to Chile to meet the families there and begin to learn about another culture!

It was a special moment for KidKnits when Ellie first met the women of True Vineyard Ministries in Rwanda.  While they were all aware of an American girl who had the idea to sell their yarn through craft kits, they did not know that Ellie was coming to visit Rwanda.  The emotion of that moment in time will never be forgotten by anyone involved with KidKnits or True Vineyard Ministries.