Watching, from afar, as the AIDS plague has ravaged Africa, I have felt completely helpless, as I am sure many of you do. The plight of the adults who suffer from this syndrome has moved me less than the plight of the orphans who are left behind. The children, some of whom are forced to turn to prostitution in order to survive, are the most heart rending of all the victims. I have tried to imagine, and my mind shies away, from what it must feel like for a child to suddenly be left with no parent at all, entirely dependent on his or her native intelligence and skills to survive, to eat, to find shelter, sometimes at a very tender age when we, in the United States, probably would not let a child walk to school alone, much less live alone. I have discovered a charity that seems to be making a difference, though, and I want to call it to your attention: Hope and Homes. H&H helps children orphaned by HIV and AIDS. H&H helps by providing shelter, food, education, and training so that these children can grow and join society. H&H helps keep families together. They are doing the Lord's work, if you will.
H&H also helps place children left in institutions in Eastern Europe and those orphaned by conflict.
You can donate here, if you should wish to do so.
Posted by Random Penseur at December 3, 2004 12:02 PMYou're a good man, Random. Writing about these subjects as often and well as you do can't help but raise the level of consciousness in your readership.
Also, if I may be allowed a word of praise, what comes through in your writing -not only in this case, but always - is an overwhelming sense of decency. That, my good friend, is why you make your point so well!
Thanks!
Posted by: Mick at December 3, 2004 03:48 PM