Daily Inspirations: Why we do what we do at Keep a Child Alive from Alicia.
Keep a Child Alive is unlike any charity I’ve ever known. We’re bold, urgent and seriously passionate about the people we support ― they are our family. Recently, I sat down with Stephen Lewis and we spoke about the similarity of our organizations. We both agreed that the work we do is so beautiful because we put the trust in people on the ground ― who know their neighbors, know their culture and ultimately, their way of life. We work to raise funds to support the warriors in Africa and India who know their people best ― we don’t land in their country and tell them how to run or function.
Some of the stories that I’ve heard at KCA blow my mind. Yesterday, we received a story from the Bobbi Bear team in South Africa, who literally save children’s lives everyday, that they picked up a 3-year-old girl off the side of the road, as she was mentally disabled and her parents were hoping a car would run her over so they wouldn’t have to deal. I mean, WHAT?!!! Whoa!! Some stories break my heart, but these stories are the inspirations behind every day of our work. They keep us going and are the reason we do what we do.
[pagebreak]
With 30 million people dead, 33 million infected and 15 million African children orphaned by AIDS alone, this issue is undeniable. These are human beings! Don’t turn away from it! We can’t turn away from each other. Only 5 million people worldwide have access to life-saving AIDS medication, leaving 10 million still urgently in need of treatment. Universal access to ARVs (anti-retroviral medication) not only brings life back to those infected, but makes possible for mothers to watch their children grow and to provide for their family back at work. Universal access to treatment will curb the increasing number of AIDS orphans who are left vulnerable and need safety, protection and love. In Africa and India, there is no aspect of human life that is not affected by AIDS today. And honestly, that affects us everywhere!
So, I’d love for you to read these daily inspirations through the month of May from each of the sites we fund in India, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. Meet some of the children and families I’ve met and you’ll understand why I’m constantly moved. Hopefully you will feel the same and the inspiration to help us to do more…
Sending you all love,
Alicia
Read our daily inspirations here.
Twitter: @keepachildalive
Facebook: www.facebook.com/keepachildalive
