A new public service announcement focuses on the work of a charity fighting poverty in the slums of Kenya. ChildsLife International, based in the Netherlands, is dedicated to finding "practical solutions to improve the lives of needy children around the world."
ChildsLife runs the Stara School in Kenya which has more than 500 children attending, many of them orphans and suffering from AIDS. The Stara School is located in the Kibera slum of one million people.
ChildsLife partners with the United Nations World Food Programme to provide meals to the children attending Stara. With so many children living in poverty in Kibera, ChildsLife would like to see school meal programs expanded to reach more of those in need. Without food and education these children have no chance to reverse the cycle of poverty.
The challenges to deliver life-changing aid have been numerous for ChildsLife. Earlier this year post-election violence in Kenya forced the temporary closing of the Stara School along with its meal program. Families in Kibera were devastated by the violence. Homes were burned, taking with them the few possessions the families owned. Women and children were beaten. Entire businesses and the hope of breaking out of poverty were lost in almost an instant. ChildsLife responded with emergency packets of food and supplies to these families. Even the dangerous conditions did not stop ChildsLife from distributing aid. But more challenges awaited with the increase of food prices across the globe.
The charity is looking for ways to reach more donors. They have recently begun accepting donations via Paypal. Public support is crucial for charities like ChildsLife at this critical time with no end in sight to high food prices. For more information about ChildsLife International please visit the organization's website.
The PSA is available on Youtube and is also available to television stations that wish to air the 30 second spot. Craig Burnett provided the narration for the PSA.