Doing my one thing!

Something that is a hidden passion of mine is writing.  I really don't prioritise it at all, I could give you numerous reasons but once I put them down on paper it just seems that my reasons are excuses.  "I haven't studied writing, literature and I am not a grammar fanatic."  I do feel insecure about writing so I do put it off all the time.  I really wish my brain had a recorder for all the short books I have written in there.  I tell myself oneday I will write them down and when I do try and remember these thoughts later they are gone.  Gone and lost on mommy island!

 When I can't keep my thoughts in anymore I tend to revert to a long, boring and tedious social media post, I apologise for this.  My husband and a good friend of mine keep reminding me about this writing thing.  Not sure how it will out work in the future but I do have a few "things" (possibly a book, short book), I  can't commit to such things now, but maybe one day.  I would need a grammar human on my side though.

Today's writing is one that started as a Facebook update but thought I could not do this to the human race anymore so I blogged it instead.  Not sure if this is the lesser of the two evils, you be the judge.

Many nights I lay awake contemplating how I can be an agent of change especially as I do not work formally.  Cut a long story short for those of you who don't know me, I am a registered and qualified Social Worker who established and ran a Non-profit organisation through a Church.  I quit, only 2 years later I realised I burnt out and have being picking up the pieces ever since.  I have come a very long way since then.  Okay, awkward silence......

I lay awake at night because a social justice burden isn't something I gave myself, if this were the case I would just ungive it too myself because in all honesty it realy isn't nice most times.  I have made peace that God has given this to me and only if He removes it will I be able to shake it off.

So there is a part of me that will commit to every single cause big and small but I have had to make peace that right now I can't commit to BIG meetings, committees, talking engagements etc. for one practical reason, I am a full time mom.  (A "job" I feel unqualified for every single day of my life.)  I don't have an abundance of babysitters and I can't afford to pay people to look after our girls at the moment.  So I have made peace with small for now.

There is big, there is very big inside of me.  The big inside of me is so big it scares me and the annoying vision of a community centre just won't relent.  But when the time is right I know I will be connected to the right people.  So upward and onward with small for now.

My contributions will be small but I feel convicted to urge other mommies, ladies, pensioners, students to come along on this journey with me.  I don't want to establish boards, meetings or structures.   I just want to combine my little bit of knowledge and experience as a social worker and connect it with our collective compassion to act practical. That's all!

I have always had young girls around me and connect very comfortably with girls (brag post ).  I love to chat to them, give them my unwanted wisdom and just love loving them.  At any one time in my life no matter what phase or mood, I have a few girls in my personal space.  I am so unhip or couldn't care about cool or the latest trends but I am a pop culture fanatic and stalker.  Maybe that's the connection or maybe just maybe it is a God thing.

So my natural connection always seems to lead me to the plight of girls, ladies, woman.  The initiatives will vary and might not be  permanent ventures and it most certainly wont bring about permanent change, I will leave that to the professionals.  I just want to create an avenue for people
who find themselves in a non-professional social justice environments at home, studies, retirement, corporate to release the compassion inside of them practically.

For the past few weeks I have been burdened by the fact that girls caught up in poverty can miss up to 84 days of school just because of a biological effect known as a menstrual cycle.  The reason: they don't have access to sanitary products for various reasons.  That is 12 weeks! That is 3 months of school they miss out on.  7 million girls in South Africa miss school every month because of a monthly period!

"The positive impact of educating girls is no secret, and yet girls are still missing school due to completely preventable reasons. It’s a fact: girls get periods. But menstruation shouldn’t result in absences, and girls shouldn’t miss out on an education as a result." - The Girl Effect

You can Google the statistics.  I would like to start a small local initiative to make a difference in this area and make menstrual care packs.   I am asking everyone who would like to contribute to please buy an extra pack or two of sanitary pads, wetwipes, and throwaway bags along with their groceries at the end of every month.  I will collect these from you and  find an organisation or school that need these items.  I PROMISE you that I will find a worthy place to drop these packs off at.

The need always seems so big but I do really believe we can all make small contributions that have big effects.  We can't help all 7million girls.  We might only make it possible for one girl to not miss out on  school for one month but it's one girl and that one girl deserves the right to her education.  Let's help that ONE beautiful girl.