International Day of the Girl Child

Educate a Girl and change the World!

Today we mark and observe International Day of the Girl Child and we ask you to give towards a a cause that will see 300 girls educated in entrepreneurship and basic literacy in Zimbabwe in 2017 for just USD$30 a girl. 

Find out how you can DONATE here

Find out more about Stimulus Africa Foundation's work here

What water shortage?

Water feature
Bristol City Centre, United Kingdom

Water shortage?

 Not in the West...

It is not realistic to stop those who have access to an abundance of clean running water to use it as they see fit. An individual, family, group or community in an environment where fresh clean water flows from their taps on demand cannot be expected to consider those they do not see, half way across the world who do not have this luxury like the woman in the charity water picture above with a glass of what comes out of her tap...only her tap is not one that gives even dirty water on demand. It is a hole in the ground to which she has to walk many miles to retrieve this dirty, 'water borne disease' infested water in order to quench her thirst. No I cannot and do not expect people who have never left the comfort of their western  or should I say 'first world' lifestyles to really understand what it it like to be so thirsty that you drink urine in a bid to quench a dryness in one's mouth that vie's for a 'desert' status. No this would be unfair indeed.

It is however not too much to expect this affluent few, (the mark of affluence here being anyone who can call upon fresh clean water at the turn of a tap); having been alerted of this situation to be moved to action...

Image from Charity: Water

What can they do? 

Stop using their water?

Send their water to those without?

Feel guilty for having fresh water when others do not?

NO...this will not do....

But what everyone can do is give...

Charity: Water is an organisation that is dedicated to bringing fresh water to the world's poorest who lack this basic human need. 

You can support their work by donating here...

Child Hunger

Bird feeding in the United Kingdom...
Whilst children around the world die from malnutrition and hunger
 everyday...

  
Every 5 Seconds a child dies of hunger.


Your waste could save their lives...

The 'Voice of the People' Feature Profile #1: Project Peter

Peter

Peter's Story

I met Peter, man from Trinidad on the streets of Reading in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2009. What first caught my eye about Peter was his brilliant white beard as I passed him on the street. His clothes looked old and in need of repair or replacement. With a bottle in one hand and a roll up cigarette in the other at about midday simply going for a walk. He seemed cheerful as he walked along the street humming to himself and I just knew that he had a story I had to tell. I went back and stopped him and asked him if I could ask him a few questions and take his picture, a little risky admittedly as he could have been drunk or high on drugs. Fortunately Peter was sober enough to hold a conversation and agreed. As I started taking his picture, he told of how he had come over in the late 50s as part of a drive by the UK government to fill jobs that had shortages post war. He had come over to be a bus driver, had settled, married and had children and lived out his adulthood in England. However at some point in his life here, his marriage had broken down and he became estranged from his children. Consequently he now sleeps rough or in a homeless shelter. When I enquired of his homeland and why he did not return rather than live on the streets, Peter talked of how he wanted to return to Trinidad but with no living family there or money for relocation the life he now lives he felt was his only option.


There are many foreign nationals who live in situations of destitution and squalor at times particularly in the United Kingdom where they have no access to public social services to assist them when they encounter life issues. Like Peter, many become homeless, either sleeping on a relatives sofa, or in a hostel or shelter, the latter often run by religious groups rather than government initiatives. Many turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape and others choose to take their own lives, unable to cope with the pressures of life where they are and unable to return to their home countries. In the article 'Homeless Briton' it is shown that ethnic minorities like Peter, who are often foreign nationals are three times more likely to become homeless as a result of various social issues primarily relationship breakdown or loss of employment. A growing issue as the population of foreign nationals grows due to immigration which is largely tackled by many charities and religious groups, which needs more attention and due consideration from a social services perspective in the UK.

Peter's Photo Gallery