Story
As everyone
knows South Africa is going to be hosting the FIFA World Cup in ten
days time. The stadiums are finished, the hotels fully booked-up and
the airports gleaming. FIFA has already banked £2.2 billion in media
and marketing revenues and I'm sure the footballers will
be making millions. But away from the shiny buildings, South Africa
remains as poverty-stricken and racially divided as ever. Most
football fans won't see the appalling conditions that millions have
to cope with in townships across South Africa. But for most South
Africans this is reality, and will continue to be so after the World
Cup bandwagon has left.
In South Africa there are 5.7 million people living with HIV and Aids (more than any other country) and 1 in 3 woman aged 25-29 live with HIV. It is estimated that during the 31 days of the World Cup, 23 000 South Africans will die from Aids. International Aids charity AVERT predicts that during the World Cup 4,500 babies will be born with HIV and 30,000 adults will become infected with HIV.
I think everyone has heard statistics like this before and they can often seem difficult to comprehend, but I thought since we are all going to be having fun watching the World Cup it would be a perfect time to give something back to the people of South Africa. This is why I am proposing that everyone should BUY A PINT FOR SOUTH AFRICA! Obviously I don't mean literally buy a pint for South Africa, instead we could all donate the price of a pint to a charity in South Africa. We don't even think about spending £3 on buying a drink but there are charities where even the smallest donations can make a big difference!
Clouds of Hope, is a South African charity that supports people affected by HIV and AIDS in the Underberg province of South Africa. The charity has an orphanage that is home to over 70 children (from new born babies to teenagers) orphaned by AIDS and provides the children with food, accomadation and takes them to school. The chairty also runs an outreach programme that delivers food and supplies to people in the local area. Please go on the Clouds of Hope website to see for yourself the work they do. I chose the Clouds of Hope charity because I knew, with such a small organisation, the money we raise will really make a difference and I have spoken to the organisers of the charity and they are thrilled!
In South Africa there are 5.7 million people living with HIV and Aids (more than any other country) and 1 in 3 woman aged 25-29 live with HIV. It is estimated that during the 31 days of the World Cup, 23 000 South Africans will die from Aids. International Aids charity AVERT predicts that during the World Cup 4,500 babies will be born with HIV and 30,000 adults will become infected with HIV.
I think everyone has heard statistics like this before and they can often seem difficult to comprehend, but I thought since we are all going to be having fun watching the World Cup it would be a perfect time to give something back to the people of South Africa. This is why I am proposing that everyone should BUY A PINT FOR SOUTH AFRICA! Obviously I don't mean literally buy a pint for South Africa, instead we could all donate the price of a pint to a charity in South Africa. We don't even think about spending £3 on buying a drink but there are charities where even the smallest donations can make a big difference!
Clouds of Hope, is a South African charity that supports people affected by HIV and AIDS in the Underberg province of South Africa. The charity has an orphanage that is home to over 70 children (from new born babies to teenagers) orphaned by AIDS and provides the children with food, accomadation and takes them to school. The chairty also runs an outreach programme that delivers food and supplies to people in the local area. Please go on the Clouds of Hope website to see for yourself the work they do. I chose the Clouds of Hope charity because I knew, with such a small organisation, the money we raise will really make a difference and I have spoken to the organisers of the charity and they are thrilled!