Story
In 2004 I was running half marathons to train for a full marathon. Today I am lucky if i can complete a 10k in an hour and a half. So the idea of taking part in a half marathon in Edinburgh next year in May is frankly a massive challenge. And I want to do this - to get fit, lose weight, all the usual things, for a very special cause - Street Child Africa.
Like many small grass-root organizations SCA is trying to create something positive out of a desperate situation. They directly fund (no middle men) 10 front-line projects in seven countries across sub Sahara Africa, the poorest geographical region on the planet.
Climate change is turning the area into a wasteland. Cattle and people are dying. In east Africa it has not rained for 5 seasons. Relentless deforestation compounds the situation. Malaria and AIDs are rife. There are conflicts over rapidly diminishing resources. 50% of the population of Africa is now under 16 years of age and they live in urban areas - shanty towns and slums.
SCA fund teams of reliable, trusted street workers to seek out the children sleeping and living on the street to give them some on-the-spot basic education and invite them to a drop-in centre to wash and rest. They get help on nutrition and health and they also get the chance to play - like other children. Drama, theatre, music and most important football. For a small number of very able children they do offer a 3-year apprenticeship or vocational likeskill course in car mechnaics, hairdressing, carpentry, ceramics. Those few lucky children can go on and have a future with a skill they can sell when they are older. For most street children life is very harsh, very cruel and very short. The cost of a 3 year apprenticeship for one street child in Ghana is £2,300.
So I do hope you will support my efforts and in so doing, support this really worthy cause.
Many thanks
Anne