WETATi Ambassadors, Karyn Chambers (13) and Christopher Chambers (12) are still going through difficult times as young children, but WETATi Academy has played a major role being part of their journey of healing and thriving. Karyn and Christopher lost their father who was in the Army in 2019. Since then, it has been a struggle for them to get back to a certain normalcy without their wonderful loving father being around. They both lived in Fort Wainwright, Alaska with their parents and then moved back to Maryland after the tragic death of their father. There was so much transitioning in a short period of time: leaving their school in Alaska, leaving friends, dealing with the move, dealing with their feelings of their father’s death, being back in Maryland and trying to get used to their new environment. Then on top of that in 2020 the pandemic hit, and it was trying times for the Chambers kids since they have not been in Maryland for a long period time. It brought many challenges to the Chambers kids all over again.

However, an opportunity for hope, healing and change came to Karyn when she began her 6^th grade year at College Park Academy.  An email about WETATi Academy’s program got her mother’s attention and her mother signed her up right away because the mission and vision of the WETATi organization lined up with what their mother thought her children needed to help them with the healing process.  Karyn’s Mother states, “It was a God sent because my daughter has been going through a rough time and a program like WETATi’s was something for her to expand her knowledge that I never received at her age and give her something to look forward to. With the great energy and support that Dr. Dureke has it gives the students energy to be excited about something.” 

Karyn enjoyed the yearlong program that even her brother and she joined the Dureke iDEA Pitch Competition with the encouragement from Dr. Dureke stating that they are not too young and should give it a try to start thinking entrepreneurially.  With that encouragement and support they tied for 2^nd Place in the Dureke iDEA pitch competition.  They didn’t expect to win at all, but it brought happiness to them that WETATi gave them something to do and that they have achieved something worthwhile to remember. This change in what is possible, helped them to start believing in themselves again and finding purpose in living, and much more.

Even though Karyn’s 6^th grade school year ended, she continued with WETATi Academy’s program along with her brother.  They are both active students in the program and have grown so much during the time with WETATi Academy. With the support of Ambassador Dr. Margaret Dureke and her family, especially John Dureke and Destiny Dureke they have become a part of their family. Chris states, “Dr. Dureke reminds me of our grandma, Grandma Grace she’s nice.”  It is great to see how WETATi Academy has touched these children’s lives among other students’ lives.  WETATi definitely encompasses that anyone can achieve the impossible even through difficult times may ensue. The Chambers kids are living proof of that.

To this day Karyn and Christopher continues to embark on their journey as WETATi Academy’s Ambassadors exploring new places and gaining the experiences through the WETATi Academy program. Additionally, they continue to spread their story on how WETATi Academy has changed their lives for the better.

“WETATi Power!”