Hello friends, colleagues and social media cohorts. I write today with great excitement running through me like white water rapids from the split ends atop my head down to the very tips of my toes. This is because after much planning, saving and preparation, I am headed to Malawi on December 22! I am taking a trip via ABroaderView’s program, where I will be staying at an orphanage on the outskirts of Blantyre, (after about 40 hours of travel). I arrive December 24th and will be sleeping in the orphanage along with the over 200 children ranging from infancy up to 15 years old.
Now, this has been a dream of mine ever since I found giving was something that gave me powerful surges of joy. A light that gave me shine from within my own world of sometimes clouded and stormed world. Being an orphan myself fuels a part of my passion but another reason that is not a well known fact, at all, and for almost all of my friends will be the first time knowing, my own mother contracted HIV in the 80’s when it was a very new disease and hope for survival was a dreary fog screen of road ahead. After my father died unexpectedly, she didn’t have it in her to fight so she gave up and took her own life, leaving me behind to raise myself, which I have since the age of 15 when I became an emancipated adult. These difficulties are extremely hard for me to allow light on, mainly because I want everyone to see the strong individual that stands here today, who is embarking on dream come true and one that I have manifested with my own will. But, as I am walking into this, I carry with me a story and a hope that through my own struggles I can take my light to a dark place, knowing the struggles that these lost children are facing and hold, feed, play with and give them all the abandoned love I carry in my heart; hoping I can generate a smile or two and get as many hugs as possible.
Among the many projects I’m planning for the children is a huge feast that I hope will become a lifelong memory and a truly amazing day. There is a large market in Blantyre, and upon arrival I will find out what the children want most, go buy it and give these orphans the simple things our children have sitting in their cupboards: food. Yes, food. Sweets and snacks and things they never have the opportunity to enjoy. Malawi is the second poorest country in the world; the poverty situation is terribly grave, especially for orphans. One in five children in Malawi will die before reaching age 5; 46 percent are malnourished and almost half will be orphaned by HIV/AIDS. These vast numbers don’t leave much aid for these unfortunate children, so the meals they have are just very small amounts of maize. Very rarely do they have the opportunity to eat anything else. I want to give them at least one good day of feasting.
There is a way that you can help and, in a way, travel with me through this journey. (I will be documenting the trip as much as possible on my website.) The day I arrive in Malawi is my birthday…it’s a day my friends always want me to celebrate and which I am always reluctant to do, but this year, my loved ones, I’d like you to celebrate with me! Instead of a party and in lieu of gifts, help fund my Malawi Orphan Feast. This is the only birthday wish I could ask for, and one that would be most fulfilling for me, and hopefully for you, too. So please join me as I speak to the children, go to the market and help feed them. As I mentioned, there are more than 200 children at this particular orphanage, so any little bit will go a long way. Thank you so much, and even if you can’t help the fund, I’d love for you to follow along and become involved with helping the Warm heart Of Africa.
I wish blessings & peace to all.
–Eve
*****UPDATE******UPDATE*****UPDATE*****
I already have an exciting news update. I have been in contact with Marie da Silva, (last year’s CNN Hero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eiuXzRf0_Y ) and after emailing and long phone conversation, she is going to be of great assistance through my journey. Now instead of just the Blantyre orphanage I will be spending almost a week volunteering and getting to know the children at her Jacaranda School. This school has almost 300 children, many are orphaned and live alone, with other children, raising themselves and some have their only meal at the school so I look forward to discovering ways that we can do something from afar to help even 1 child. I am thrilled to have a mentor and Malawi guide now.
Eve…your adventure commences now. Your friends send you off with all of our love and support realizing you will return changed forever! We hope and pray you will impact others to be change makers as well!
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Eve, we are all so blessed to have your light among us…. The children will also see the rainbow that is you when you are there. We are all so proud of you for this adventure you are about to embark upon. Know that while you are there we are all there with you.
Eve, I’m proud to know you and call you friend. I’m in awe of you and the wonderful, generous thing you are doing (and the amazing things you stand for). Good luck to you on our trip, my thoughts and best wishes for a safe, inspiring, heart-hugging trip are with you. I just know you will get as much out of this latest adventure as those children will. I have the feeling this is the first of many such journeys for you. Much love, M.
You have an inspiring personal story, eve! Let us know how you’re doing over there in Malawi. Peace! — JD
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