Saturday night I attended a fundraiser sponsored by the Okotoks Rotary for some projects in Bujumbura, Burundi where my friend Beatrice Nzojibwami lived prior the civil war. When her ex-patriot friend, Deo Mbituyimana, visited their homeland two years ago, he saw an inordinate amount of homelessness, poverty and despair. He determined that he must do something. Upon his return to Canada, he put his dream into action by joining with the Rotary and with Rick Castiglione. Saturday night's dinner was the kick off for the fund raiser. The projects identified will need $45,000. This sounds like a lot but when you consider the projects you wonder how they will do so much with so little.
During the keynote session, I watched a short clip of children carrying chairs on their heads and walking over 20 kms one way to "school." which was just an open air cluster around a tree. No internet. No library. No gymnasium. Neither did they have any books, shoes, water, food or lavratories. They came voluntarily. I am told that their only other choice is to work in the fields from daybreak to sunset.
There were several clips shown that night where individuals from Canada have gone to the Killing Fields, Sudan, and the Ukraine and have worked tirelessly to make small but important changes.
There is a part of me that wants to sell everything and go do something meaningful like this too. But my life is here for now. So I am calculating how many steamed milks and trips to Winners could actually make a difference to a small child in Bujumbura who wants to go to school. What project are you supporting?
1 comment:
WHAT!! YOu can have steamed milk and go to Winners with WW? Sign me up. :) We have given to World Vision and Unicef for many many years. Some fun things have been purchased for a needy child or family. One year we gave the kids money to sponsper someone with the Kiva program. There have been some tenders moments and tears shed with some of these gifts. We have so much - - -how could we not give.
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