Spending 3½ weeks of her summer vacation visiting an orphanage in Zambia -- an impoverished nation in southern Africa – changed Christina Schloot's outlook on life.

The impact of the trip was an eye-opening, tear-jerking, heartbreaking experience.

"When I came home, I was caring more for others and not as much about myself," said Schloot, a junior cheerleader at Orangewood Christian.

She saw children who had to share worn-out shoes to walk on dried-out, rock-hard ground. She saw a child close to starvation being nursed back to health. She saw other children whose only food for breakfast, lunch and dinner was cornmeal.

Even before Schloot left for Africa last summer, she and Emily Hudson, a volleyball player at Orangewood, had talked about helping needy children. But after Schloot returned and showed Hudson pictures of what the living conditions were for children in Zambia, they knew exactly where to direct their efforts.

The two have formed a club at Orangewood called "Children Everywhere." They are the club's co-presidents. Its membership has grown to 35 students since the fall. Its goal is to focus on the problems the children in Africa face, but since the Haiti earthquake, they are hoping to help there as well.

"It is a passion of mine to help serve others," said Hudson, who plans to accompany Schloot when she returns to Zambia this summer. "I want to help people who are less fortunate than I am. This is really a big passion of mine, to bring change to the world."

Orangewood athletic director Kenne Brown said of the girls: "They are just two kind souls trying to make a difference.''

The club has a goal of raising $10,000 this year. They have held a couple of fundraisers that have raised $400.

A benefit concert called "A New Generation for Change" is scheduled for the outfield grass on Orangewood's baseball field in May. Local bands are being lined up and will perform for free. There will be a $10 admission charge, and donations will be accepted.

The hope for the concert is to raise awareness and enough money to donate to three organizations heavily involved with helping the children in African countries.

"There is just a lot of poverty there, but the people there seem so happy with the little they have," Schloot said about her visit to Zambia. "That was a big shock to me. These kids are happy living two to a bed. We have more than we will ever need, but they don't have near what they need."

Giving her time

Dr. Phillips lacrosse player Adriana Pratts spent half of her senior year doing something to help herself, and now she is doing something to help others.

During the fall, Pratts, who plans to pursue a career in the medical field, volunteered at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, working with several doctors and a surgeon. Now she is volunteering, along with her aunt in downtown Orlando, to help feed the homeless.

"It is my firm belief that if we keep our heads in the right place and give it all we've got, then with a bit of will and lots of effort, we really can achieve something," Pitts wrote in her senior bio for the lacrosse team.

If you have a "good guy" in high school athletics who you would like to tell us about, e-mail Joe Williams at jwilliams@orlandosentinel.com.