New Year's Resolution... October 2013

So it is 1st October again!- another year, another project! 1st October has always been a memorable date for me and, as with the rest of my life, God has now 'rebranded' it into something that is still important, but in a different way.

This year I want to start being actively involved with more charity work. I serve at my church (regenerationchurch.co.uk) for example doing youth work (Pulse = Friday night youth), mentoring and helping at the homeless shelter we run on Saturdays in conjunction with Hope4Havering. But I want to get involved with external organisations on a more regular basis...

One of my favourite organisations, The A21 Campaign, is the one that I have chosen as my starting point for this year. The A21 Campaign is a Christian organisation that is fighting to abolish modern day slavery in the 21st century. Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings, mainly for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. As the world’s fastest growing criminal industry, it affects every nation across the globe.

Every thirty seconds, someone is forced into this type of bondage—modern slavery. There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe. Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.

I will reveal my plan as soon as I have discussed it with A21, but until then, here are some more facts about human trafficking, more about The A21 Campaign and some ways to get involved in the fight against to injustice of modern day slavery!

Blessings!

Ronell x

{photo credit: http://anuneducatedpalate.com/2013/01/01/happy-new-year/}

Sevenly // RE*Generation {Virgin}

This week the amazing Sevenly has partnered with Re*generation fighting against homelessness. The RE*Generation is Virgin Mobile’s cause marketing initiative to address youth homelessness. Their mission is to empower a generation to help its own by connecting individuals and organisations who want to improve the life of these young people. The issue caught their attention in 2006 as they were looking for a cause to align with and rally behind. It’s an overlooked problem in the US and the result of other societal problems like poverty, drug abuse, mental illness, domestic violence and homophobia. Foster children who “age” out of the system often become homeless and make up a growing number of the homeless youth population. 

When you see a young homeless person, what goes through your mind? Is there judgment? Do you stereotype this person as a drug addict or a jobless loser? Contrary to stereotypical perception, many of these people do not live on the street because they are rebellious youth but rather due to circumstances beyond their control- circumstances that force them to seek refuge on the streets. Girls that are being sexually molested by their fathers, boys who are being physically abused by their supposed loved ones run away and are left on the streets because of the harsh card life has dealt them.

THE SOLUTION:

This week, Sevenly have partnered with RE*Generation and Virgin Mobile USA to provide a living facility that will give homeless youth the tools to build a better future. In this home, they will receive a plethora of valuable resources including: education counseling, vocational training, job placement and employment counseling, information resource and referral, community service, and follow up care. These homeless youth deserve a chance at a better life!

So change a life by and spread the word with a tshirt or jumper (and many more items!) from Sevenly!

Blessings!

Ronell x