Imagine yourself for a moment a child where the words “holiday spirit” mean nothing. No hot meals, no family, no friends, no giving or receiving of gifts, no mother or father to hug and kiss, no home. Imagine the daily struggle of an orphan, without hope or the ability to satiate their dreams.
Childhood sans unaffected excitement. Imagine the discontent, the enormous disappointment; imagine the inability of expression, the nonexistent future. This is the reality of thousands of Sri Lankan children orphaned over the years via civil conflict, HIV/AIDS, poverty or the Indian Ocean Tsunami.
As I sit here contemplating the truth of so many, the words of Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General run through my head. “The task now facing the people of Sri Lanka is immense and requires all hands. It is important that every effort be undertaken to begin a process of healing and national reconstruction.” Spoken on the 19 May, 2009 in Geneva, the intensity of this statement has not yielded. In order to rehabilitate a scarred but strong Sri Lanka, we must begin with the children.
It is one thing to give each child a loving home however, they need more. Education is one of the most restorative opportunities a child can have. Indeed, education is important for peace and stability in communities as a whole. An organization founded in Kenya, has demonstrated this very point. Heroes of the Nation (www.htn.org) has taken hundreds of displaced orphans formally walking the streets alone and given them the gift of educational and vocational training.
Orphans taken in by this movement are required to finish secondary education and have repeatedly ranked in the top 5% in national year-end examinations. As a Sri Lankan citizen you must ask yourself what you would like to see happen in your future. Schools and orphanages rely on their surrounding communities to keep their classrooms, bedrooms and dining halls open and running. The payoff is great. Through a nurturing and loving environment, orphans are able to turn their disadvantages into resources. Their hope is restored, and they are able to keep their faith in a society that empowered them instead of forgetting them.
This holiday season, I personally pledge to dedicate my time and energy to the positive improvement of those without hope or home. I believe in the future of Sri Lanka, and I believe in each and every one of her children. Let us give the gift of love and assistance. Research what you can do in order to donate, volunteer, or support orphaned children in your area.
wwSTITCH volunteers are dedicating their time to over ten children’s homes this holiday. Donations or gifts are to be delivered to each home. To find out more about how the STITCH movement is making a difference, please visit our website at www.stitchmovement.com. |
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