Our Dictionary Drive

I arrived at Martha's two weeks ago to find this really special boy 'Edward' at her house. He seemed to be very worried about her (it was when she was very ill) and he sat with me on the couch while having a cup of tea. There was something very special about him and we chatted about school and life in Makapanstad. He told me that he often came to keep Martha company at night and showed me his house which was very dilapidated - just behind hers. He told me that his Mother and two sisters had died a few years ago and that he lived with his Father who was a drunk and hardly ever around. To make money for food he herds goats for a local man in the area, earning R200 a month (£20). He told me that he loves school (he's 16 years old) and that one day he wants to be a 'Marketing Manager'. I asked him if there was anything I could do to help him and he said yes - what he'd really love more than anything in the world was a dictionary.

Wow, a simple dictionary. I mean - how many do we all have lying around? I felt so moved by his request and so sad at the same time. We take the small things so for granted sometimes and the fact that a simple dictionary could actually change this boy's life is mind boggling. Often in small communities like Makapanstad the children only have school to look forward to - so to him studying and being at school is what he lives for (because there isn't much else).

So it got me thinking. There are probably hundreds of children like him in the area that need dictionaries and books to read and write. And we probably all have a few lying around the house that we never use? So why don't we help the kids at the local school by donating a few (or ever exercise books and pens) so that they can really see a future in their education.

If you would like to help then please post your dictionary to: Martha Letsoalo, The Heartfelt Project, P O Box 642, Makapanstad, 0404, North West Province, South Africa - and we'll make sure that they get them as soon as possible. Alternatively you could make a donation (there is a link on the left hand side) and we'll go and buy them for you.

Ps. please pass this message on, so that together we can help change these special children’s lives

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