GIFTS OF HOPE
GIFTS OF HOPE
C Jojo
Recently, I received a most interesting catalogue from my sister, Doreen. It was issued by a Canadian Charity called “Plan” and it lists all the various charities you can support and the required contribution being sought for that particular cause.
It is the first time I’ve seen a charity organized in this manner. You can help: Beekeepers in Egypt, Buy a pig in Mozambique, Goats in Bangladesh, Farming tools and seeds in Sudan, Tuition to pay for learning how to weave in Peru, Three hens and a rooster in Mozambique, Cows in Bangladesh, Literacy training for two women in Rwanda, Soccer balls for children in Colombia, School supplies for children in Sierra Leone, Nourishment for school children in Colombia, Build a classroom in Mozambique, Clean water in Benin, Mosquito nets in Uganda, Immunize a Community in Bolivia, Midwife Training in Uganda, the list goes on and on, but you’ll get the general idea – and frankly, I am very impressed with this approach. Sometimes you give to a charity, and you have no idea how your money is expended, but in this instance you do!
I wanted to choose one which would benefit the most children, and the one I chose would seem to some, to be the least important of them all, but to me, it was unquestionably my choice. Here’s what it is:
“BIRTH REGISTRATION IN MOZAMBIQUE.
One-third of babies born in the world each year, or approximately 48 million children, are not registered at birth. For legal purposes, they do not exist. With no birth certificate and no official identity, these children can’t claim their legal and political rights, get access to social and educational services, and secure good jobs. They are vulnerable to being trafficked and sold, exploited and abused. Plan’s universal birth registration program is a simple way of ensuring that children are protected. It’s their right!”
I can’t think of anything more dreadful than not having an identity, not having any human or legal rights, not being able to get an education or apply for a decent job, simply because you don’t have a birth certificate so, in the eyes of the law and Governments, you don’t even exist.
So this Christmas, in memory of my beloved brother in law who died on my birthday, August 16 of this year, I am supporting this most worth cause.
I know there are many worthwhile causes in need of support; health issues like the proliferation of Aids in Africa, grinding poverty, starvation – the list is endless. But if you were to ask me what I think is the world’s biggest problem, I would have to say – illiteracy. The old adage of “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day – teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime” is to my mind, the key to all the poverty in the world.
And the first inalienable right a human has is the right to be registered at birth, and exist legally. It is the first tiny step towards that child being in a Government run school, getting an education and ultimately, a job which puts a roof over his or her head and food on the table.
This then is what I chose to support.
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May be I would have gone to the same noble and worthy cause you selected. My hearts goes for those kids born unregistered and mostly unwanted who later becomes slaves and criminals for no fault of their own. We can remove “illiteracy” only if we first provide food and shelter to the poorest sections of society whatever their nationality, color and race. A hungry stomach will not listen to the voice of wisdom.
Yes, Sathya, I agree with you. But first give a child an identity so he or she can get Government benefits, health care, schooling and yes, food. Without a birth certificate, a child doesn’t exist, and that is in my opinion, a dreadful thing. That child becomes a target for pedophiles who know full well, that if he/she disappears, no one will be any the wiser, since he/she doesn’t officially exist.
Rio de Janeiro, and all major cities in Brazil, are crawling with abandoned boys (girls aren’t abandoned because they are sold into child prostitution or work as housemaids) and these children have no recourse, and aren’t protected by the law – in fact the police kill them because they steal and yes, even kill in their struggle to survive.
I know of two such cases first hand: the son of a friend and his girlfriend were visiting Rio on holiday when they were held up by an 8 year old boy with a gun. “Give me your jacket and shoes,” the boy told the young man “Or I will kill you.” The girlfriends didn’t believe the boy and thought he was bluffing. He wasn’t, shot and killed the young man. When later asked why he’d done this he replied “Well, he wouldn’t give me the jacket and shoes,” as if this fully justified killing a man in cold blood.
On another occasion, again a young guy out with his girlfriend had a kid snatch a gold chain off the girlfriend’s neck. The man turned to see who’d done it, and the 8 year old boy shot and killed him.
So as far as the police are concerned, killing abandoned boys is one way of ridding Rio of criminals. There was an article in the newspaper about these killings some time ago.
I think the first measure should be to get poor ignorant women to start using birth control which they don’t do because their Priests have told them it’s a mortal sin. So they produce all these kids they can’t afford to feed, then turf the boys out on the street to fend for themselves when they’re little more than babies themselves. And they don’t register them at birth, ergo as far as the law, society and the police is concerned, these children don’t even exist.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Very thought provoking post Jojo, thanks for that, it’s not something I have thought alot about actually, so I am grateful to have it drawn to my attention. I often donate to WWF, SPCA, Red Cross and Oxfam, but haven’t heard of this organization before. I am going to check it out.
Thanks for your comment marilyn, and bless you for donating to worthy causes.