Our Fun = Funds for Malawi

I would just like to share a little of how our fund raiser will be helping.

"Some believe that human trafficking is something that should be low on our list of priorities. Societies and country leaders seem to push this matter to the margins of our day-to-day reality. You can't do that if you have looked into the eyes of children who have been sold into slavery or sexually exploited. They have names and eyes that long for hope. Can you imagine being sold by your prostitute sister as a sex worker at 12 years of age." The Salvation Army believes the rescue of children is our responsibility.

"OVC in the country of Malawi refers to Orphans and Vulnerable Children. In the community of Migowi that I visited today, there are 530 OVC who either have no parents or one parent and in many cases are being raised by an older brother or sister. The Salvation Army captain in Migowi says that there should be 1,000 children coming to their programs as there are that many in need. What do you do when HIV/AIDS wipes out countless caregivers? In Malawi, the community comes together thanks to the leadership of The Salvation Army."

"Today we visited two communities where the Army supports programs that respond to victims of HIV/AIDS. I saw the record books of thousands of people who have been tested and it broke my heart to note so many on each page that had tested positive. Here programs start and stop due to funding, but what we noted today is that volunteers keep things goi...ng. The volunteer care staff with their Salvation Army T-shirts took us to two homes.

In one community we entered a dark room and on the mat lay Gloria and beside her was her sister Victoria. Gloria can't respond as her illness is quite advanced. Victoria tells us how the children will be looked after by the family. The caregivers visit regularly to encourage and help the family. Later in the day we sat in another bedroom where 22-year-old Susan, who had been tested early and is receiving antiretroviral drugs, will likely live to see her three children grow up."

Commissioner Brian Peddle