From the Mouths of Babes

AIDS:  

For so many the impetus behind volunteering in countries in need, is the disease that grabbed world wide attention in the 80's - AIDS.  The destructive effects of a silent killer like AIDS is something we in Western society can never and hopefully will never have to comprehend, or endure.  Its devastation is so far reaching its effects are becoming; second, third, in some places even fourth generational in rural and urban African communities.  Poverty compounded by myth and superstition make eradication of this killer increasingly difficult.

From a more personal perspective, AIDS wasn't the motivating factor for me, it wasn't the 'cause' behind my decision to see what I could do.  As I've said many times, for over twenty five years it has been my desire to give my time helping and supporting some of Africa's most vulnerable.  I wanted to see what I could do.  I wanted to help those who couldn't always help themselves, to help the children left behind after disease has taken those who they need the most their Family.  But when you look deeper, and ask yourself why are these children are growing up alone? Of the many reasons, there are two resounding causes; Water borne illness and AIDS.  Water borne disease is THE biggest killer across the entire African continent, but AIDS and HIV are still an enormous and significant threat. 

I whole heartedly agree that we must begin by helping those closest to us, our own families, our own communities, but if we ignore the plight of others just because their problem is too big, too far away or it doesn't directly effect us, are we not ignoring, that we are all just one community, a global community? And as a global community is it not our duty and responsibility to at least attempt to fix what can repaired?  

My minuscule role in halting the spread of AIDS, is the collection of 1600 condoms.  I will give these to the clinics of the rural Kenyan community that I will be calling home this summer.  They can give these away as they see fit.  If this donation stops just one person being infected with HIV, just one child to not be born afflicted with this killer flowing through their veins, for one family to not loose their mother, father, sister or brother to this disease then I will be happy.  This is a result I will never see, but I will sleep safe in the knowledge that at least I tried.  

"Aids Aids Where did you come from? 
You came bouncing like a monster 
Mother was heavy 
A month later, Father died 
followed by our new born baby 
Aids - Where did you come from? 
I am left alone 
No one to help me 
I am like a ball in the field 
kicked by fate 
Aids - where did you come from?"

by Fasil from Aberdare Ranges School

I do not own this video - Shared from So They Can's Facebook Page

A red ribbon won't stop you getting AIDS, but a condom can.