About http://www.afrikid.com

Hey guys and gals,
I know this is a marketing website and you
like to read about marketing stuff. But blogs
can be used to help people who are less
fortunate than we are. On the marketing
forum I visit the most I found this post
by a man for who I have the upmost respect.

I know that online there are many scams
and many people taking advantage of the
good nature of other people, but I can
tell you for sure that THIS is real and
that THIS is something that will indeed
help these kids from south africa.

I have known Michael Tracey for the past
5 years and I have learned a lot from him.
So this is the least I can do to help
him and even if this is a marketing blog
I don't care what you say I'm posting
this stuff that doesn't have much to do
with marketing but is instead about LIFE,
and how we can help someone who is helping
hundreds of children to have a better life.

If you want to contact Michael to offer your
help visit his other website, Africhef.com
and click on "Contact Me" at the bottom of
the left side navigation menu. Here instead
is the post I found today:

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Americans Have you any idea how lucky you are?

To be living in the USA?
Or you Brits to be living in the UK?
Or you guys living in Western Europe?
Or Japan, or the more progressive Pacific Rim countries?

I don't think you have.
Because you can't conceive of what it would be like to live where I've been today.

About me: I've been a warrior since 1999 (I think it was)
and I use my online income to support my offline work.

What do I do offline? Run 2 non profit pre schools for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Help in Soup Kitchens, Feeding schemes, job creation projects amongst other things. (Before I retired I used to be a director of a large public company)

I visited a primary school today & I've slung together a site to show those of you who're prepared to take a quick looksee, why I say you're lucky.

It's at Afrikid.com only 2 pages, read & weep.

I've undertaken to help this school, maybe you'll see why if you take a look at the pictures.

I'm also currently involved in putting together a Section 21 Non Profit Company with the involvement of 4 churches, the local Rotary & something called operation heartbeat.

The company's called Setshabelo which is Sotho for "Our Refuge" and it's main focus will be looking after/supporting children who've been orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS and who are living in child headed households.

People outside sub Saharan Africa have no idea of the impact that HIV/AIDS is having
People are dying like flies.
One of the tragedies is the number of children left orphaned because their parents have died of AIDS
Even more frightening is the fact that often these children are left outcasts.
The number of child headed households, where kids of as young as 13 are looking after their younger siblings is horrific.
These children are often living in shacks, & starving to death.

UNICF estimates over a million orphans in South Africa alone, rising to 2 1/2 million by 2010

A particular African township, Thokosa on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg have asked us for help via their community leaders. The unemployment rate in this township is round about 50%

Setshabelo will be going in and providing support, education, food, medical treatment, clothing, in fact all the basic necessities of life, to the estimated 550 orphans, living in child headed households in this township,
We will also be generating economic activity & creating employment.
Such things as traditional African beadwork, clothing etc.

Now 550 might seem a drop in the ocean when you look at the estimated 1 million figure
But we are hoping to develop a pilot model that can be put into place in other communities

The setshabelo.com website will be used to highlight the problem to people explain what we're doing and how they can help. Donations, sponsorships etc

The afrikid website Afrikid.com will be used in a similar way to help kids with regards to schooling health issues...

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So, if you have a blog, post his links on it.
If you can offer any help whatsoever contact
Micahel and talk with him. If you run a website
or a community tell your readers, members, etc
about the Afrikid.com website.

Do something nice. Help who is in need.
Be proud of yourself and help others be
proud of themselves. Help them have an
education, help them inùmprove their life
conditions. We who live in the west of the
world have so much to be grateful for.

Let's help who does not have anything to be
grateful for. Let's be nice human beings
and not the ruthless marketers we can be.
For once at least.

Thanks :)
Saul

PS. Again, check http://www.afrikid.com
and contact Michael Tracey at his other
website, AfriChef to offer your help.
Thank you!

Wow - lots of days with no posts, huh?
Why is that? That is because I changed
job and I'm soooo much more busy than
I was with my previous job... so I'm
finding it difficult to organise my time
and make the most out of it.

For now, until I organise myself better,
there will be less posts than usual...
As soon as possible I will be updating
this blog regularly again.

Thanks for your patience :)

Have a nice day,
Saul