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Community Corner

Whiz Kid: Taylor Capretz

This girl is reaching far beyond her community to work with AIDS patients around the world.

Name: Taylor Capretz

Parents: Jim and Cindy Capretz

School/Grade: Santa Margarita Catholic High School, 10th grade

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Whiz Kid Achievement: Traveled to Nepal for a month to work with mothers and children infected with the AIDS/HIV virus, is currently putting together a documentary of her experience. Started a club at her school called Friends of HIV-Infected Children, is currently working on starting a foundation for this cause. She plans to travel to Brazil and Africa to further her research and work.

Key to Awesomeness: Taylor began her journey when she attended an event at the Rand Corp. in Santa Monica and learned this devastating news: AIDS is the No. 1 killer of women and children around the world. Taylor returned home and did her own research on the subject and discovered that Nepal, Brazil and Africa have some of the highest rates of AIDS-related deaths in the world. Wanting to help, Taylor formed a plan to visit these three countries and examine the AIDS virus from a transcontinental, global perspective. Specifically, she wanted to know why AIDS is so prevalent in these countries, how women and children are viewed and treated  in communities, and what their future holds.

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Last summer, at the age of 14, Taylor took her first trip to Nepal. During her monthlong stay, she lived with a Nepalese family and worked 7-9 hours a day, five days a week with AIDS patients, primarily mothers with children under 10 years of age. Along with a woman named Jamie, a lawyer who works at the Rand Corporation, Taylor fed, played with and cared for these patients, in addition to counseling them about nutrition and the AIDS virus. While in Nepal, Taylor interviewed several of these patients for a documentary she and a film editor are currently working on. Taylor hopes this documentary will educate people about this growing problem on a global level.

This year, Taylor started a club at her high school called Friends of HIV-Infected Children. She is working toward starting a foundation as well as putting the pieces together for a business plan in the next month. This summer, Taylor will head to Bahia, Brazil, to work with AIDS patients and then travel to Ghana, in Africa.

Taylor, who sings in the Advanced Women’s Honors Choir, was nominated by her choir and handbell teacher, SMCHS Performing Arts Department Chair Francisco Calvo. The school encourages the students to strive toward its motto of “Caritas Christi,” which means “the love of Christ.” Taylor has exemplified this quality not just in her school and community, but around the world. For her compassionate heart, business-minded spirit and motivation, we are proud to feature Taylor Capretz as this week’s Whiz Kid.

 

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