Unknown 'Idol'

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"American Idol" changed David Cook's life, and now he hopes to use that platform to help girls in Ethiopia.

If only they knew who he was.

"We had to explain to the little girls (who I am)," Cook said in a teleconference interview from Ethiopia.

The season 7 "Idol" winner and his guitarist, Neal Tiemann, played a few songs for the girls during their trip (Tulsans know them from local bar gigs in their Midwest Kings days before Cook became a household name on "Idol").

"I definitely had to win them over," Cook said. "They didn't know what to do with the tall, tattooed white guy, I guess."

Cook traveled to Ethiopia this week as a guest of the United Nations Foundation to learn about the challenges adolescent girls face in many parts of the world. Footage of his trip will be featured during "Idol Gives Back," the megafundraiser that will air at 7 p.m. April 21 on Fox, and the U.N. Foundation project will be one of several beneficiaries.

In Ethiopia, he visited the Biruh Tesfa (Bright Future) Project to see firsthand how the foundation is working to educate and empower girls.

"There's a sense of hope and an amazing vibrancy here, especially at the school with these girls," he said. "On the flip side of that, there's a massive opportunity for change."

Simple $2 donations to the United Nations Foundation and "Idol Gives Back" can mean school uniforms and books to help girls in Ethiopia attend school.

Ethiopia has one of the highest child marriage rates in the world, with more than half of girls married before the age of 15. Only 17 percent of girls ages 20-24 receive a secondary education, according to the U.N. Foundation.

The Biruh Tesfa Project helps young women attend educational programs, literacy training, health checks and assistance in obtaining government identification cards. Education can help them have a future and avoid becoming child brides or victims of human trafficking.

"The girls at this school genuinely want to learn," Cook said. "I don't think anybody can deny that (in Ethiopia) education is not a right for these girls, but a privilege — it's pretty abhorrent."

Cook said he was "extremely moved" by the trip and hopes to participate as much as he can in "Idol Gives Back" and use his name — and his music — to bring attention to projects such as Biruh Tesfa around the globe.

"It's really hard to fathom that it wouldn't be impossible to come into this kind of situation and not be changed by it and moved by it."

‘IDOL GIVES BACK'

When: 7 p.m. april 21 on Fox 5/23

For more information, visit tulsaworld.com/unfoundation

Cary Aspinwall 581-8477
cary.aspinwall@tulsaworld.com

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David Cook wasn't well known in Ethiopia, but his help will go a long way for girls.

"American Idol" changed David Cook's life, and now he hopes to use that platform to help girls in Ethiopia.

‘IDOL GIVES BACK'