While attending school in Australia in 2005, I saw a documentary that has forever changed me. It is called Invisible Children. It followed the lives of "night commuters"; children in East Africa that resorted to commuting to safer locations at night to escape kidnapping by the Lord's Resistance Army (a rebel sectarian religious and military group based in northern Uganda that kidnaps children to use as soldiers). After I stopped bawling, I vowed to someday go to Uganda and help where I could. I didn't know exactly what I would do, I just knew that I had to respond to what I had seen, and that a new obsession had begun in me.
I spent the next six years reading, taking African history classes, writing to the US Congress on behalf of peace in Uganda, fundraising, spreading the word, and signing up for weekly newsletters on the political news of East Africa. Whenever I heard "Africa", "child soldiers" or "LRA", my ears perked up. I began sponsoring an adorable girl named Viola in Uganda, whom I've grown to love and care about, immensely. We have written each other several letters since July 2010. When I asked her if I could come see her one day, she replied "Yes! Uganda is so beautiful. It is the Pearl of Africa. It has good vegetations. I know when you come, you will admire it." This girl is after my own heart. :) I even wrote a poem about Africa in one of my college English classes (see my blog "Song from an Unknown Lover"). My professor asked me after I turned it in: "When did you go to Africa?" I replied "I've actually never been. I've just researched it so much that when you assigned us to write an "Obsession Poem", I felt that this was a genuine obsession that I could write about." She lifted her eyebrows and said "I've been to Africa, and it just sounds like you know it exactly!" I don't know about that, but I sure do care a great deal about it!
After Christmas of 2010, I received a book entitled "Passport into Darkness" by Kimberly Smith. It was her story of how she became involved with Sudan and helping the "Lost Boys" of Darfur and southern Sudan. The familiar ache in my heart for the children of East Africa began to stir as it had when I first saw Invisible Children. I came across Global Volunteer Network's (GVN) website and found a perfect organization that would help me go to Uganda and make good my vow made in 2005. And "Ta DA!"...here I am!
I am going to Uganda in the spring of 2011 for about a month. I am going to help an organization called House of Hope (see the"Donations" tab for more information). I will also get to meet Viola in person! I will be a teacher's aid in the school at House of Hope, living on the compound, using a "squattie", and taking bucket showers! I will be leading arts & crafts, sports & games, and songs & dances for the 100 children attending House of Hope's school. In my free time, I plan to visit the sick in an AIDS clinic and meet child soldiers in a rehabilitation center. When I see Viola, I'm planning on giving her family a goat; a large gift in their culture due to it's continual supply of nutrients and income.
GVN has a collection of volunteer's experiences around the world. These stories are bound in a book called "Ripples of Difference". The concept of making a "ripple of difference" is one you've probably heard before. You may have felt that murmur of doubt in your mind saying "Can I really make a difference? How can my $10 really do anything to help the situation of these Ugandan children?" If you haven't seen it for yourself, trust that GVN has seen direct change as a result of people like you giving their time, spare change, and sizable contributions. Here's an example:
Through giving even just $10, you could give a child some school paper. On that school paper, that child could write down their goal of becoming a Ugandan government official so that other children won't be hungry like he/she is. If these goals are backed by confidence and the freedom to pursue them, that child could achieve them. Thus giving them the opportunity to change their government. Changing some of their government policies can enhance the quality of lives, establish strong market systems, and virtually alter the landscape of the entire country. In the end, your $10 caused a ripple effect that led to real, affecting change.
Ultimately, every effort counts for making a difference because what you do can start a ripple of change. You never know what your contribution will do to change the course of history. I am asking you to stop and consider donating to help a child survive and make his/her world a better place. I am asking you to join me; be a pebble, thrown into a lake, causing a ripple of change. That is my dream and I hope you'll share it with me.
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| Ripple of Difference |
The story doesn't end there though. You are a part of my journey too, if you want to be. Together we can do great things for these beautiful children in Uganda. In order to do more for House of Hope when I come, I am hosting a fundraiser (please see the "Fundraiser Event" tab above for more details). I hope you will come to it, and if you can't make it, that you'd consider donating on the "Donation" tab. Their need is great, and our resources are greater. Together, we can make a huge ripple of difference for Viola, and for Uganda.
Thanks for reading. I will be blogging and uploading pictures and video during my trip, so be sure to check in once in awhile! Blessings and travel mercies to you all! And thank you for changing our world for the better.
Sincerely,
Jillian
