The inspirational trigger that urges people to become involved in
humanitarian aid work varies from person to person, but the common link
is an overriding desire to make a difference by improvement.
My trigger
fired many years ago whilst undertaking work at Sighetu in Northern Romania.
The Institute for Deficient Minors is a 4 storey hospital which accommodates
physically and mentally handicapped children. On the top floor I met
a 4 year old lad named Sebastian. He was strapped into a car seat, facing
the corner of the room and he was sobbing uncontrollably. As I turned
his seat around and his tear-filled eyes met mine, I was surprised to
find their colour and shape exactly matched those of my daughter Maria,
now 23. I released his straps, picked him up and his tears subsided.
It took a while before I realised that I had just experienced a moment
of deep personal significance.
Subsequently, and as a direct result of my experiences in Romania, Project
Albert was conceived with a view to making a difference to the lives
of underprivileged children in the slum areas of Nairobi, Kenya. In that
first year, ten people accepted the challenge to embark on an extraordinarily
physical, and often emotional journey to some unique and occasionally
inhospitable environments. We met some remarkable people and forged new
friendships with some unforgettable characters in these often astonishing
areas of abject poverty. Some excellent work was done for some very appreciative
people.
The participants of Project Albert 2001, and all subsequent
'Albert' projects, will remember their adventure long after the activity
has ended. Some team members have said that they found Project Albert
a ‘life
changing’ experience,
suggesting perhaps that other inspirational triggers have already been
fired. |
