A Bay area native is helping orphans who live thousands of miles away in Africa.
Rita Langeland founded the Treasures of Africa Children's Home in Tanzania in 2007. Now she's on a mission to expand the orphanage to help and educate even more children. It's a project that could cost as much as $5 million.
The St. Petersburg Catholic High graduate said it's something she has to do.
"I couldn't turn away," Langeland said. "Once I saw that need, I literally could not turn away and do nothing."
Mary Migiro and her sister are thankful for that.
"They helped us a lot," Migiro said.
Migiro, 16, flew to the Bay area from Tanzania to share her story at a fundraiser for the project Saturday. Migiro, whose parents died when she was 5 years old, said Treasures of Africa changed her life.
"I get my schooling from there," said Migiro. "I get my basic needs from there, shelter and clothes."
In Tanzania, Migiro is the number one student in her class. She wants to go to college, and her dream is to become the next president of Tanzania.