​“Saying ‘hello’ or simply smiling at people on the street can create a feeling of acceptance or friendliness when their day may not be going so great." 
~Kayla Roscoe (2018 DRI Winner)~

On her DRI application, Kayla wrote, “My idea is to go out in the community and offer to do yardwork for those that cannot do it themselves or have difficulty doing it themselves. I think this will show respect for elderly people and also let them know that people are thinking about them and are willing to help.”  Kayla’s DRI crew, members of her church’s youth group, were eager to give back by doing this yard work for free. Offering seniors a list of projects to choose from, they collected the supplies needed to fulfill those projects and got going!
They've already completed a project for Lynda Seymour. She had just lost her husband, and did all of the yard work.
"My friends were happy to help in any capacity that they could," Kayla said. "I asked friends at school and also the youth group friends. I go to a church that is very service oriented so it was not hard to find volunteers."
Seymour's husband was a Vietnam War veteran, and predisposed to prostate cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange.
"I know the Seymours and she mentioned being overwhelmed and wishing that her yard was fixed, but she did not have time to worry about it then. I asked her if she wanted us to come and do some yard work for her and she was so happy."
Helping Kayla were: teens Sally Boger, Savannah Jones, Kaitlyn Roscoe, Logan Wagner, Jaxon Beaty, Connor Rains, Chandler Alford, and adults Amy Roscoe, Greg Baity and Robbie Roscoe. 

A few months later, who could have imagined that something similar would arise across the globe in Zimbabwe?  Lamiel Phiri, the youth overseer at the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian, Rugare, has visited the US several times.  He received a copy of the Davie Enterprise with the DRI story on the front page from a friend.
Inspired by the idea of bringing respect into their small community, he refocused his efforts to inspire local youth.

​The Davie Respect Initiative has inspired the creation of the Zimbabwe Respect Initiative. The ZimRI began by cleaning up a church building and its grounds and other local projects. These young people are finding that service done for free can be energizing and inspiring. The church’s minister had difficulty getting help from his mostly older congregation. When the ZimRI offered to get involved, all he could say was, “I am humbled and short of words. In this era, I never thought we could find a group of young people who can come together and help out at my church and community.” When the young volunteers returned the next day, three of his youth members were already out slashing grass.
​The joyful work of raking leaves, pruning trees and helping seniors has given these young people, a world apart, an experience of serving others.
Can we imagine where else this example of respect may lead?
For more information about the Davie Respect Initiative, email [email protected].
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This article was first published in Davie County Enterprise Records on 3/28/2019

Respect is more than a hit song by Aretha Franklin. It’s something we can never have enough of, and our young people are leading the way in showing us ways to respect each other a bit more.
The Davie Respect Initiative held a contest last year in which young people could submit ideas on how to spread respect. Ten of those young people were awarded $1,000 each to carry out their respective project.

​Respect builds​ bridges.
Respect is the fabric that binds us together.  ​
Respect is good for families, schools, business, churches . . . for all relationships.
​​Respectfulness looks for the highest and best in others, opening the way for greater appreciation and positive relationships.

"The initiative fits perfectly into the foundation's goal of supporting things that make the community better. We can't do it without respect." 
Jane Simpson (Davie Community Foundation President)

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​"It's effortless to be an advocate for something that means as much as respect does. My hope is that the respect you give is contagious." 
Caroline Moser ( Davie Chamber of Commerce Executive President)

"Respect is so important to every aspect of our lives, whether it is our personal relationships or business interactions. By shining a spotlight on respect, the DRI reminds us all that we are better people and a better community when we are respectful to one another."
​Carolyn McManamy (of the Davie County Chamber of Commerce)

"Davie County is the perfect size to have this experiment (the Davie Respect Initiative) in that we will experience the results immediately as more respect is practiced. We don’t have to agree, but we can always be respectful towards one another.”
Terry Bralley (President Davie Co. Economic Development Commission)