Role Models for All of Us
“There are so many needy people in the world, what can I do? I’m just one person, what difference can I make?” We hear people say that all the time.
Next time take a moment to respond.
Tell them about the three children under age 10 living in New England who painted sea shells to sell and donated the money to help HIV impacted children.
Tell them about the young girl in Virginia who asked that instead of gifts for her 6th birthday that her friends bring toys and school supplies for HIV impacted children in Africa.
The equivalent of about 2 tanks of gas—pays for a child’s school uniform and supplies in sub-Saharan Africa so they can attend public school for a year
Tell them about the middle school in the Midwest that held a week of competitions between classes and donated the funds raised to help HIV impacted children in the US.
Tell them about the family in the Southeast who decided to stop exchanging Christmas gifts between adults and instead donate that money to help build a school for AIDS orphans.
Tell them about our Ugandan partners Vicky and Sam—both HIV positive themselves—who along with managing their own health issues devote their lives to addressing poverty, abuse, malnutrition, discrimination and suffering of others.
It takes $50 –the cost of 10 cups of designer coffee–to provide chickens to a family that will supply them with fresh eggs and meat. About $125—the equivalent of about 2 tanks of gas—to pay for a child’s school uniform and supplies in sub-Saharan Africa so they can attend public school for a year. For $250–about the cost of a gym membership for six months–to provide one vulnerable 13-18 year old girl with vocational training that will enable her to be free from the trap of cross-generational and transactional sex—and most likely the transmission of HIV/AIDS or another sexually transmitted disease.
If we all made the decision to follow these amazing role models to individually do whatever we can for others, the world would be a much different and better place.
