Build-a-Backpack

This project came about by chance.......during January I celebrated my 50th birthday.

The word “celebration” is used loosely in the sentence above, because, in reality, what happened on that day, became a life changing event.

Having recently moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, and not having much more than acquaintances here, it seemed random to throw a party for friends whom I barely knew.

At this time, I had been chatting with a dear friend and ex-colleague in the USA. She had been planning some really exciting team building sessions there with some great companies wanting to give to underprivileged children in Africa.

At that moment I knew how I was to celebrate my birthday. My partner and I went and bought 11 backpacks, filled them with pens and pencils, rulers and erasers, colouring pens, scissors, note books a few balloons and some book covers. These we took to a childrens home in Northcliff, Johannesburg. The children in this particular home are all critically ill children, whom require daily treatment at hospitals.

When a little girl holds you in her arms, looks you in the eyes and says:

“THANK YOU – I LOVE YOU” – it is life changing!

….and that’s where the journey began……

Shortly after this, my dear friend Julie, flew to South Africa with 100 backpacks filled with stationery, which had been put together as part of the team building sessions she had held in the USA, to distribute to underprivileged children in South Africa.

Julie and I spent the next 3 days, distributing these backpacks to a few other children’s homes in and around Johannesburg, one of these schools being run out of the government hospital in Johannesburg, as these children are having daily treatment and need constant hospital care / monitoring.

Emotions ran very high, as we spoke to children, their teachers and care givers about the trauma that some of these children faced in their short lives – “that as adults, if we had to endure this pain, we would have been bed-ridden for weeks, if not months”.We held, hugged, laughed and played with these children – and then we drove away in tears – feeling a bittersweet accomplishment.

The backpack project must go on…….my ambition is to continue distributing backpacks to children in need. The contents of the backpacks will vary depending on their needs – but right now, stationery is very much in need and welcomed with loving hearts.

For just 15 USD’s I am able to purchase and put together 1 stationery filled backpack for 1 child in need.

It just takes a few dollars to brighten the future of these beautiful children. Please help me!

Love, Light and positivity to you!

Much Love, Glenda