Give it back!

Barev Dzez! (that's hello in Armenian. It's acutally spelt: Բարեւ Ձեզ, but I'm guessing most of you can't read that ) .

Last weekend (Saturday) I went and did a little charity work. This of course was some great news for my state of mind and body, which were relieved for once, not to be spending time on the sofa all day watching the telly. Well, I’m part of the Youth Leadership Program which is under the Ycare Charitable trust; an organisation that raises money for charities around the country. Anyhoo, each year for three years now, the leadership program has been organising a charity called “Smile for Christmas”, which in essence means that we come up with funds to help pay for the event we make for the less fortunate, in order to put a smile on their face. For example, last year they threw a Christmas party for the children in the paediatric ward at the Princess Marina Hospital.

This year we went to a place just outside the city called Gamodubu. There basically is a child care trust there that feeds children every single day. We took it upon ourselves to put in the little time we had to raise some money, toys and clothes to present to the trust. The money was used to buy various snacks for the children.

Firsties, let me tell you something, getting there was not fun at all. The best transport we could organise was a mini truck, or what ever they are called; and let me tell you something, Botswana is not hot, it’s blazing down here. So we travelled like 30 kilometres or something in the back of the truck, it had no roof, it was bare naked...and so were we (naked to the sun I mean; get your mind out of the gutter, honestly). Anyhoo, it was 37 degrees Celsius that day and let me tell ya, I turned two shades darker in just 10 minutes; that’s all. Another thing, sitting on the back was very uncomfortable. My bottom really ached that evening.

However, we made it with huge smiles on our faces. The place had a great turn out of children with some of their parents. Even though it was really hot and some of my colleagues were a little crazy from the direct rays of the sun, everything turned out great. The founder of the child care trust was so pleased and so were the children and their parents.

You know, the point of this post today is not to give you an overview of my weekend and this event. The sole reason is to plead with you to give back. I saw those children this weekend. Some of them are poverty stricken orphans and some just seemed to live in dire poverty. But these kids were just so happy to receive whatever little we brought them. I mean, a couple of snacks from us is just so little, but it went a long way. They were so happy, and the parents were pleased. The simple gesture of giving was enough to them. This brought me so much joy in my heart and my spirit. I’ve never really done any charity work like this in my life, but it feels good. After that I spoiled myself with some Coca-Cola and had a good night’s sleep. Knowing what I had accomplished that day; travelling in the scorching sun to put a smile on someone else’s face is just fantastic!

I would like to encourage you, talkers, to give back to your community. Even if it does not involve raising money and stuff for the less fortunate; go and spend time at a shelter, volunteer. I for one am hooked for life. I am literally going to be addicted to giving back from now on. You know, we are always thinking and talking about what we don’t have, be it money, riches, fancy clothes or whatever. For once, especially for this holiday season, think about what you do have and cherish all of it, because there is someone out there who has it harder than you do. Appreciate and Donate. Let that be your mantra from now on.

Phew, this was a long post. That’s because I’m extra happy. I have a fuller heart now. I would like to thank all the members of the leadership program for a job well done and heck, Smile for Christmas did not just bring a smile to our trustees’ faces, it brought smiles to ours as well; you see, it’s a win-win situation.

Peace my peeps!

PS: the next series of posts (I’m not sure how many), are going to be based on the best and worst of 2010.

PPS: I know it’s a little cliché but I have a mind full of a long year’s experience which I would like to share.

PPPS: Just so you know, school is already on the “worst list”.