My family was once poor. I can remember not having money for school fees and being sent home. I remember sometimes not knowing if there would be supper, because there was no food or money in the house. Then someone from the neighbourhood would drop by and say GOD told me to bring this by, and we would have dinner. I hope someday I can be that neighbour to someone. I hope you who are reading this, will be that neighbour. I hope I never lose the humility to understand people less fortunate than me. I remember getting into trouble at school because my shoes were scuffed and my parents had no money for new shoes. I never really knew what it was like to have new clothes until I was in my late teens.  I had a family that was strict, a family that was poor, but a family that loved me and parents that would do anything for me. I saw miracles that only someone who has been poor realizes. A very small piece of meat, one portion at a restaurant - feeding and statisfying a whole family. You can be this miracle for someone else. Eg: If you don’t finish your food in a restaurant, take a “doggie bag” and give it to someone homeless.

My dad once pawned his guitar for that R5, his most treasured earthly posession, so that I could go on a school trip. Those were the kind of parents I had. Things turned around and we finally had our own house, a car that did not break down and the surety of food every night. My sister and I remember the hard times as a distant past. My little brother doesn’t remember them at all.

The reason I am telling you this, is because as hard as it was back then, and as much as the neighbours in our “white” area looked down on us, there were people living 5kms down the road, in the “Township” who dreamed of a life like ours. We were constantly aware, because no matter how poor we were, my parents always tried to help those “less fortunate” than us. I went to school, I had school shoes, I had two parents, I only once felt the hunger in the pit of my stomach that hurts so much it kept me up at night. To think that there are children who have that feeling most nights, breaks my heart. Children who live in fear because their parents abuse them. Children under 16 who look after their siblings because they are orphaned by HIV/Aids. Children that are my neighbours. This is the reality of living in Africa. Many children do not have the luxury of growing up, they have to be responsible for more than the average parent living in the Western World.  For those who do not ever see these problems, people in other countries and my neighbours who do not care to look, I would like to highlight some causes.

I feel that every person who is in the richest 10% or 5% should pick something, even if it’s just one thing, to care about and to try make a difference for.  You can donate (what can buy you a MacDonalds meal could feed a child for a month), you can physically help (volunteer, write and raise awareness), but sometimes, something so passive as talking about these issues and motivating other people can make a big difference.  Especially if it involves things the media doesn’t present to you. Be an OPRAH – remind your friends of the stories that need to be told. I will be trying to highlight some things close to my heart as and when I have time.

The first is a non-profit organisation started by Jackie Branfield. The Bobbi Bear foundation. It is very close to my heart because it is an organisation that provides practical and emotional support to abused children. The organisation is centred around a toy bear. How can a toy bear save lives?  This bear is a device used in courts and councelling as a post-abuse communication device that children can use to explain what has happened to them. The evidence provided by writing on this toy and using plasters etc to explain, has aided in justice and healing for abused children. The organisation is based in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, and has received a lot of recognition for the AMAZING work they have done. Not only rescuing abused children and sticking with them until they see Justice, counselling them, supporting them and getting them back to a place where they can be children again, Bobbi Bear has also been involved in teaching HIV/Aids prevention in school. I have witnessed with my own eyes, the difference they have made. “Nonni” who was beaten and abused and hardly spoke english, went from being a sad, lonely, unloved, quiet girl, to a loud, bubbly girl, who has come to know the love of a family, and is getting an education that will build into her future. Wouldn’t you like to make a difference like that? Change the course of someone’s whole life? You can! Go and get involved in a project near you and if there isn’t one – START ONE. If you are reading this, you are almost certainly one of the richest 10% in the world – people need you to make a difference for them.

As far as Bobbi Bear goes, They are still under-funded and need any help they can get. Due to the recession a lot of funding has been cut! Thanks to “Keep a Child Alive” giving donations, they are able to keep going and most importantly, pay staff salaries. KCA is one of the main funders, however, more donations mean that the work that Bobbi Bear does, can be perpetuated in their satelite branches which have now been established, and perhaps in the future, Bobbi Bear can go global and help children in other areas of South Africa and the world.

If you want to see it for yourself, they have had a documentary made about them called Rough Aunties.  Rough Aunties received the “World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize“ at SUNDANCE. They did not receive any of the proceeds and still need donations in order to continue running. Please try and get hold of the film. To me it is not raw enough, seems slightly sugar coated, but that is because I know the people and what they went through better than what the film can portray. It is a brilliant film and will make you cry. If you are not in South Africa, if you would like to find out how else you can help, please email me at sara8pies@gmail.com . You can also donate through Keep a Child Alive (for USA and UK residents). There are many things you can do besides just donating money. Please, Please, Please- take a few minutes to look at the videos I have included. Please vote in the poll!