Why I am obsessed with going to Africa

Why Africa is so important to R-E-L.

Why is going to Africa so important to R-E-L?

Everyone knows that Africa is something that is very important to me. I figure that since people ask me questions about 'why' all the time, I might as well explain myself.

So, why do I care so much about Africa?

I think the question that I should propose is 'why not?'

Everyone wants to complain and act like they feel horrible about what is going on in the world, but yet, no one wants to do anything about it. I'm not saying that you have to take radical measures to make a difference. That is one thing that people don't understand. They think that they must do great huge things to make a difference. In reality, most of us are unable to donate large amounts of money, or spend our time helping others. However, there are plenty of things that one can do to make a difference. I can't stand it when people bash things such as writing letters and attending rallies and what not, claiming that these things wont make a difference. What they don't realize is that there is such a lack of awareness about the problems in the world. Things such as letters and rallies raise awareness and show politicians that people in America care about causes outside of the US. Therefore, politicians will be more likely to push for policies which will help places like Africa and places in crisis.

I honestly don't see how people can watch things like that and not be compelled to do something. Ideas of change are not unrealistic. If everyone says that its just not their problem, then nothing will be solved. Without hope, nothing will change.

Honestly, does it hurt to have hope? Does it hurt to be optimistic? I think not. If you have hope, I promise that you will make some sort of change. It may not be a huge solution to the problem, but at least you can say that you cared. What happens when full fledge genocide has taken place, and all you can say is that you sat there and did nothing. So many people say that they would have cared when the holocaust was going on. But a genocide is happening right now, and so many people could care less.

So again, why do I care so much about Africa?

Everything will seem so corny, but I seriously feel like it's my calling. For years, I was so unsure about what I wanted to do with my life. When I learned about what was going on in Africa, I felt that I had to do something. Not even that I had to, but that I wanted to. I feel like if I don't, I'm not fulfilling my potential. I love children and even more, I love the children of Africa. Children who have countless problems, but still have the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. They have seen such horrors, but still have the ability to smile and be happy for what they have. Children that can dance and sing with joy like no one else can. Children who despite the dangers that they face everyday, manage to keep faith. That is the reason why I want to help them. I'm in love with them. Seriously, when I see little African children I think 'those are my babies'. Helping them will make me happy like no other. They are all beautiful inside and out and all they want is to know that people care. When you are suffering so much and it seems as though the world is neglecting to help you, you feel alone.

It makes me dumbfounded that so many people are so negative towards me about wanting to go to Africa. People say things like 'oh you're not going to make a difference, you aren't going to change the world by going there' blah blah blah.

So I read something today:
As a young man walked along
The beach at dawn, he noticed
An old man ahead of him picking up
Starfish and flinging them into the sea.
Finally catching up, the young man asked
Why he was doing this. The answer was
That the stranded sunfish would die if left
Until the morning sun.
"But the beach goes on for miles
and there are millions of starfish"
countered the other.
"How can your effort make any difference?"
The old man looked at the starfish in his
Hand and threw it safely into the waves.
"It makes a difference to this one" he said.

So if I can go there and change one child's life by letting them know that I care, then I've been successful. I don't know what it is about Africa, but I feel like I need to be there. And perhaps no one can understand that. No one can feel what I feel when I think about being in Africa and being surrounded by all those kids. I want to dance with them, I want to sing with them, and I want to laugh with them.

Share this post on:

 •    •    •    •    •