When you realise how lucky you are

It may sound strange coming from someone who lives 12,000 miles from home, but I don't feel I really 'travelled' until I first visited Africa in 1995. That trip was also the first time I truly understood what Poverty is.

Since that first experience I have been back to Southern and East Africa seven more times, and each visit reminds me not just how lucky I am to have been born in a wealthy country, but also how distorted our priorities are in the 'developed' world.

I read an article recently that said the average Britain earns far more than 50 years ago, and has far more possessions, but paradoxically their quality of life and happiness levels are less.

Perhaps everyone needs to visit materially poorer countries to gain a reminder of what is important in life.

One of the most moving days I've ever spent was visiting the Nanyuki Children's Home in central Kenya in late 2006. It was inspirational to meet these children and to hear of the hardships they are overcoming, and the dreams they now have.

I was there voluntarily taking photos for a small Charity that raises funds in the UK to help support the Home. It took me a further year, and hearing of the impact of the turmoil in Kenya last Christmas, to actually start providing support financially.

Now I am doing a little extra to support them. Since January I have been sponsoring Victor and Beryl (pictured), and hopefully I will be able to sponsor more children in the future.

Both their mothers are dead, and although their fathers are believed to still be alive, it is likely they have HIV, so won't live much longer. If it wasn't for the home, these children would be on the streets, or possibly dead themselves.

And for less than the cost of two pints of beer a week, two lives can be changed forever.


Andrew