FREMONT, Calif. —Among a large group of people who are starting Silicon Valley companies and websites, it’s hard to find one more inspiring than 17-year-old Suraya Shivji.
After teaching herself to program iPhone gaming apps (应用软件) and getting them posted on Apple’s App Store, the Fremont teen is using them — along with a crowd-funding campaign (大众筹资活动) she began this year on her website, Rizikitoto — to raise money for African orphans (孤儿).
So far, Rizikitoto has helped Suraya raise about 1,300 dollars for the children, with money from each app given to a particular child. Suraya talked about her plans in an interview.
Q: What caused you to want to help these children?
A: I went to Africa a couple of years ago, and my sister and I volunteered at an orphanage in Uganda. Most of the children I worked with were 10 and 11. The orphans were really talented and really bright. I just saw the need. I liked the idea that anyone like me could help.
Q: What made you think of using your gaming apps?
A: I taught myself how to program a few years ago. The apps are great. But I didn’t want them to just sit on the App Store as stupid games. And then I thought of connecting each one to a kid at the orphanage I worked at. So that’s how it started.
Q: Do you make money by having people pay to download them?
A: A couple of them must be paid for but the rest are free with advertisements. The first ones were free, because I wanted to get things rolling. But I’m pretty sure from now on I’ll have all of them paid for, because it’s the best way to grow successfully.
Q: How do you see Rizikitoto developing?
A: I can see it being pretty big. I want other kids to program apps for the company, so it won’t be just myself. I’m trying to reach out to other groups, too. And I’d like to work on more projects like this.
11. What’s the best title for the text?
A.Give Kids a Hand | B.Make Money from Apps |
C.Apps for African Orphans | D.A Special African Teenage Girl |
12. Suraya came up with the idea of helping African orphans ______.
A.because of her trip to Uganda | B.under the influence of her sister |
C.together with other volunteers in Africa | D.after she saw the hardship at an orphanage |
13. The underlined part “get things rolling” probably means “______”.
A.make an early start | B.make an experiment |
C.make things begin smoothly | D.make things easy and simple |
14. What does Suraya think of the future of Rizikitoto?
A.Worrying. | B.Uncertain. | C.Challenging. | D.Bright. |