Over the Summer my two children were invited by ActionAid, to tell children in Myanmar, which was Burma, all about themselves using the medium of sticking, felt tips, glitter and translators. As a blogger I found a perfect match in ActionAid as a charity, and the idea of child sponsorship. I know many people in the blogging community already sponsor a child, you will already know what an amazing thing it is to do. 50p a day can make a real difference not just to a child, but to their whole community. It’s a commitment and one I have had to make sacrifices for, but the payback is priceless.
This week I saw a video of Samantha Womack, aka Ronnie from Eastenders, who visited Myanmar for Action Aid. She was reading my children’s letters out to children in a school in Myanmar. I say school, it’s one building, with an uneven floor, shared by 5 different classes.
It seemed strange, and a little uncomfortable, to hear my children’s words about their lives, in this context. My eldest was 5 when she drew her picture and dictated her letter, and took the opportunity to tell the children of Burma ‘My Mummy is going to buy me a rabbit’, something I have no recollection of ever agreeing to, even Samantha laughed as she read it, whilst the children in Myanmar looked slightly bemused, look:
Joking aside, my two were amazed to see someone I assured them was ‘off the telly’ reading their letters in a completely different country.
So far apart are their worlds, but Miss L and Khin Mar Hlaing have something more than age in common. They are both partial to trying to take a nap at school. I suspect my daughter has less grounds for hers however, and this made an interesting talking point.
Through blogging for Action Aid I have found some amazing ways to help raise some global citizens of my own, to teach them about charity, sustainability, community and gratitude. This week I’ve been blogging about a first time, as it is ActionAid’s first time sponsoring children in Myanmar. It is a great prompt if you fancy joining in? Gemma from helloitsgemma and Uju from Babes About Town did just that.
ActionAid are inviting people across the UK to celebrate Child Sponsorship Week and make a huge change to all the people who have endured decades of struggle and uncertainty in Burma/Myanmar and elsewhere in the developing world. Celebrities have been thinking about what 50p a day buys here, and what it buys in terms of child sponsorship.
If you’re curious do feel free to ask or to check out ActionAid Child Sponsorship or #csweek on Twitter. I know bloggers receive lots of charity requests, but if you have a spare tweet or fb update that would be great!
About Penny Alexander
Once a drama and media teacher, now a freelance writer, education consultant and mum, Penny Alexander blogs and vlogs at Alexander Residence about parenting, creativity and sometimes even parenting creatively. Penny tweets at @Aresidence and can be also be found on facebook, Google + and LinkedIn
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