Better Men Better World Search

Matt is a truly unique individual. Born in the hometown of Napoleon Dynamite, one would not suspect much from a kid who has grown up on a farm, isolated from the outside world. However, at 23 years of age, Matt has already spent two years on a humanitarian mission in Australia. This work was not only without pay, but Matt had to finance these two years on his own. When he completed his service, Matt was given a chance to change the world by his leaders.

Upon his return home, Matt has been a student at Utah State University, serving as an ambassador to the university in various capacities that include the encouragement of high school students to seek higher education. It was at Utah State University that he traveled to Africa for seven months to amplify the scope of his education. When Matt returned, he decided that he wanted to do something big for the people in Africa. Matt helped co-found Guvu International in 2010.

Guvu is the Swahili word for 'power' or more specifically, 'opportunity'. Guvu International is a non-profit organization that specializes in micro-lending to help Africans empower themselves and lift themselves out of poverty. Guvu is unique in that all the money generated through fundraising goes directly to the African people. Unlike other programs that charge substantial amounts to send people to Africa to play with children and fix fences, Matt is once again, paying his own way with the intentions of spending 1+ year in the lesser-traversed areas of Africa, in conjunction with a Master's Degree studying the political culture in African societies.

Matt deserves this honor because he has been dedicated to various service capacities since adolescence. He has set a high standard, and knowing Matt, he has always followed through with what he has said. He is a man of his word, which says something about an individual that has said so much. Not only has he set out to change the world, but he has done it by helping others to empower themselves and spreading awareness within his community which is otherwise isolated from these problems.