As I look back at my life, I wonder if there was ever a time when I actually went the extra mile to make a difference in people's lives. Yeah, I could have helped a few people along the way in whatever ways I could, but I don't think that really counts as 'going the extra mile". So I must say I was deeply touched, and inspired when I recently came across the blog of a 20 year old young lady from Kenya who did just not stop at caring, but actually went a step further by making it one of her priorities in life.
Rebecca Alitsi from Kenya
Rebecca Alitsi is a 20-year old Human Resource student at Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Kenya with a big heart, and big dreams for girls from Kenya who face difficulties in pursuing their education. Imagine that - a 20 year old who is a student herself - empowering young girls living in slums to stay in school, and helping some with their school fees through the support of friends and donors.
I must say I felt rather selfish after learning about what Rebecca does for her people. Coming from a country where the standard of living is pretty decent, I must have easily spent thousands of ringgits in the past years on the least important of things. Besides donating to anyone who comes my way seeking help, I cannot say with a clear conscience that I had actually gone out of my way to reach out to any of the endless causes out there, unless approached.
I have heard about the concept of Thagappan Swami, where the child god Muruga is said to have taught His father, Lord Shiva, the meaning of the Om as Lord Shiva sat obediently at the feet of his son (ok, ok, I admit that the last bit about Lord Shiva's sitting position was inspired by a flashback of Gemini Ganesan sitting at the feet of a child star (Sri Devi? Prabhakaran?) in one of the Kandan-inspired movies :) What's life without a little drama, eh ). Anyway, I guess it's pretty much the same as the Wordsworth-inspired liner "The child is the father of man" (no, not Gemini's sitting position, but the concept of Thagappan Swami)
At some point of our lives, we do learn our lessons from people who are much younger than we are. I know I learned one of mine from Rebecca...
May the universe conspire to make Rebecca's sincere dreams come true.
Click here to visit Rebecca's blog, and do help in any way that you can.
Rebecca Alitsi from Kenya
Rebecca Alitsi is a 20-year old Human Resource student at Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Kenya with a big heart, and big dreams for girls from Kenya who face difficulties in pursuing their education. Imagine that - a 20 year old who is a student herself - empowering young girls living in slums to stay in school, and helping some with their school fees through the support of friends and donors.
I must say I felt rather selfish after learning about what Rebecca does for her people. Coming from a country where the standard of living is pretty decent, I must have easily spent thousands of ringgits in the past years on the least important of things. Besides donating to anyone who comes my way seeking help, I cannot say with a clear conscience that I had actually gone out of my way to reach out to any of the endless causes out there, unless approached.
I have heard about the concept of Thagappan Swami, where the child god Muruga is said to have taught His father, Lord Shiva, the meaning of the Om as Lord Shiva sat obediently at the feet of his son (ok, ok, I admit that the last bit about Lord Shiva's sitting position was inspired by a flashback of Gemini Ganesan sitting at the feet of a child star (Sri Devi? Prabhakaran?) in one of the Kandan-inspired movies :) What's life without a little drama, eh ). Anyway, I guess it's pretty much the same as the Wordsworth-inspired liner "The child is the father of man" (no, not Gemini's sitting position, but the concept of Thagappan Swami)
At some point of our lives, we do learn our lessons from people who are much younger than we are. I know I learned one of mine from Rebecca...
May the universe conspire to make Rebecca's sincere dreams come true.
Click here to visit Rebecca's blog, and do help in any way that you can.
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