Maddy Clawson | Next Gen

For as long as Maddy Clawson can remember, her family has been heavily involved with World Vision — and she especially appreciates how her mom, Gayla, keeps her and her siblings informed and involved with all the projects their family supports and why.

But it wasn’t until the summer before her senior year of high school, when the crisis in Yemen was escalating, that it became personal for her.

“I kept seeing a lot of posts about it on Instagram — very graphic posts that were super upsetting to me,” Maddy says. So she asked her mom if they could help by donating to World Vision’s work in Yemen.

“I always knew that there were problems in the world,” Maddy says. “But once you get older and you realize how real they are and how they affect other people, it just hurts. It's sad. I was like, God, there is so much more I can do. So going to my parents and asking to donate to Yemen was the first step of me putting in an effort for myself and not just from my family.”

“I love being part of this Next Gen group because it gives me the opportunity to serve and promote helping solve prominent worldwide issues I am passionate about,” Maddy says. “Being part of this group helps me feel gratitude for all I have and flames the fire that wants to serve and do more!”

Connected by a shared vision of ending extreme poverty in their lifetime, World Vision Next Gen members are dynamic leaders who are committed to using their voice and influence to raise awareness and resources to support World Vision's transformative work to empower people to rise out of poverty.

Maddy and her fellow Next Gen members are already seeing the fruits of their labor. In their first year, they surpassed their audacious $125,000 goal and raised $421,775 to support health clinics in Zambia.

“It teaches you leadership, hard work, kindness, and determination,” Maddy says. “Focusing on a positive aspect of the world can really change your mindset. So many people are a little bit more negative, which is sad in the world today. Focusing on the positive is when you start to find a little more passion and find a little more hope, which is what the world really needs.”

Maddy Clawson Next Gen

“We were so proud of her for wanting to do that,” Gayla says. “Little did we know, however, the positive effect her involvement would have on our whole family. As she talked about the project the next Gen group was working on, we all felt a part of their efforts. She loved the amazing young people that were part of her group, and she learned so much from them. It was amazing to see these young people choose a cause to support, set a goal, strategize and work hard to achieve it, then succeed! Our family felt such joy as we saw the good things our daughter and all the Next Gen participants accomplished, as they partnered with God to bless his children.”

Now the Next Gen members have set their sights on a new goal of $100,000 that will support World Vision’s education and water, sanitation, and hygiene work.

“Joining this Next Gen group is life-changing,” Maddy says. “It changes us similar to the way that we're helping other people change their lives.”

maddy clawson: next gen flames the fire of gratitude, service

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