It all started with three friends and travelers who come from different continents – Rhoda Todoran, a digital solutions producer from Los Angeles, USA, Michelle Roldan, a visual communications designer from Sydney, Australia and Mirjam Verkleij, a nurse from Utrecht, The Netherlands. They were inspired by children and their natural ability to creatively express themselves in a way that communicates beyond borders and spans all backgrounds, cultures and ages. This is how Little and LOUD began.
In December 2008, News.com.au partnered with Little and LOUD to help increase awareness about Fote Primary School to Australian readers and fund a special Christmas gift for the kids. Our readers and supporters together raised an amazing AUD$15,000 in just four weeks. By December 2009, Little and LOUD had organized a special Christmas celebration with a feast, dancing, and an outdoor cinema for all families of the community; Built new storage building for school equipment, a new building for kindergarten made from demolishing the old dilapidated building and re-using the material and a new sanitation block. Little and LOUD also provided sports equipment, reading books, art materials, educational posters and office supplies for the new school. Classes in English and computer skills were also organized for teachers and students.
The spirit of Little and Loud continued when Rhoda moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2009 and met Sarah Grosh and Shibnum Blewett. The tradition of friendship, traveling and the quest for social change lives on.
