Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Help Africa

I feel a bit guilty about my previous post which might sound a bit holier than thou.
I was going to post on much happier things but have just watched 2 TV programs tonight both about Africa but also about the work of Australians. One (Australian Story) The Still Of The Night was about the work of a young couple, very much in love who had a dream to work in Tanzania. He was a builder by trade and they planned to build a children's village in Africa.

In 2007, after four years of planning and fundraising, the couple moved to Tanzania to start putting up the buildings. But at the beginning of July tragedy struck in an event that became headline news back home in Australia. Darren Stratti was shot by robbers in front of his partner.

I remember it being in the news but their life story brought it all back. His 2 brothers, eldest son and some friends have just gone back to Tanzania to complete the building hopefully by Christmas. Possibly his partner Rebecka Delforce may return to run the village but naturally she has problems at the moment with going back. Information about the organisation is at http://www.foodwatershelter.org.au/who-are-we.aspx

This was followed by a program (Four Corners) called A Walk to Beautiful about an organisation that had also moved me in an earlier interview this year. Another Australian, this time much older, Dr Catherine Hamlin AC who began working with her late husband as a gynaecologist in Ethiopia back in 1959 is still involved with the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa.

I find the stories of women suffering from Fistula heartbreaking and make me ashamed of being upset at losing money in the current financial crisis. The Hamlin Fistula Relief and Aid Fund is well worth supporting and the USA fund is at http://www.fistulafoundation.org/.
I also have such admiration for people who give up so much to use their talents whether as a doctor or a builder to help others in these ways.

I had already decided a month ago to add this organisation to my pathetically small list of regular donations.

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