From Waste To Hope
Why Am I Donating One Dollar From Every Book Sale To Charity?
In the book I tell the story about the early part of my senior gap year when I was in a remote part of Australia. I witnessed truck loads of surplus good quality bed linen from mining camps being dumped. It was an unexpected opportunity that kick started a huge unforeseen project. Working with Rotary International through the Rotary Club of Mill Point in Perth, a whole range of charities were identified who could benefit from this linen. With the generous support of the mining companies, the end result was a 126 pallets of quality bed linen, worth a replacement value of around a quarter million Australian dollars (approx. US$200,000), was distributed to these charities.It was in the latter part of my senior gap year when I was in South East Asia. I had witnessed the disgraceful side of waste. I wanted to see the other side of this. What impact this linen could have on the people who received it. I learnt one of those benefiting charities was the Borderless Friendship Foundation in Thailand. They support young children from the northern mountains region who have little or no access to education. Their prospects are dire, often becoming vulnerable to the sex and drug trade. The foundation supports five hostels that give these children access to not only education, but a safe environment.I tracked down this organisation. As I was taken on a tour of each hostel, I never thought I would get emotional about a load of bed linen. But to feel how much it meant to these children, was heart-warming. Some of these kids had never slept on sheets. As I went to each hostel, there was one common expression from each of the children. Gratitude.I stayed with the family of one of the Hillside tribe leaders. The work they do in conjunction with the foundation is inspiring. The proceeds from just 360 of My Senior Gap Year books will provide the basic essentials to support a child for a year. To have access to education. A future. Something we take for granted. To obtain the book Click Here.