Three containers in 3 months!

The UK division of the Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles (a worldwide humanitarian organisation run by members of the Sri Chinmoy Centres in 135 countries) pulled together recently, managing to collect and organise the shipment of three containers of humanitarian aid in just 3 months!

In May, a container based on medical supplies and hospital equipment was sent to remote Guinea-Bissau in West Africa – one of the poorest countries in the world. A Portuguese colony since the 15th Century, Guinea-Bissau gained independence in 1974, but civil war has kept this small country's 1.3 million people in a state of poverty and turmoil for many years. Even its main hospital is seriously lacking medical resources.

In June, over 125 used bicycles were collected, repaired and distributed to impoverished children in Northern South Africa. For children that live in rural Africa, a bicycle can be life-changing, helping them get to the nearest school, which otherwise may be impossible.

Finally, at the end of July a third container with milk powder, soya drinks and kitchen utensils was assigned to homeless children living in the squatter settlements near Cape Town. Around one million people live in this area, often in makeshift housing. Many of the children here are malnourished and these provisions will provide them with much needed protein and other essential nutrients.

This shipment also contained boxes of toys, along with several hundred dolls that were part of a special worldwide Doll Project. For this assignment, groups and interested individuals were encouraged to make dolls for these children. In response, handmade dolls flooded in from many countries including France, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Mongolia.


Pens, pencils and notebooks were also included in each of the three shipments. Unfortunately, many schoolchildren in underprivileged countries do not have access to these basic items.

The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles does not endeavour to raise money via public appeal; it draws upon the goodwill and support of companies, hospitals, corporations, community groups and the general public to provide the materials and aid needed for its various international initiatives.

Links:
Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles in UK
Pictures of our humantiarian aid work
Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles website