❼ The Unsexy Details of My Work with Orphans

People want to know what I do to help orphans but I don’t like to share because the truth is not sexy.

I’d rather tell you only the cool parts like when I get to travel or deliver fancy speeches.

But now that Story Story is out and doing extremely well (thank you!!!), I’m feeling a greater sense of responsibility to be transparent.

So here we go.

How I’m Helping / Planning to Help Orphans

#1. Getting Smart

I’ve been reading UNICEF reports and looking at the facts and numbers.

Two things I’ve learned are really interesting and the third absolutely blows my mind.

Turns out that the vast majority of orphans are in Africa and these children become orphans for two reasons:

1. Their parents die of AIDS (~30%)
2. Their parents are forced to abandon them when they have no money or can’t find jobs

Most interesting to me, however, is how these children are cared for once they are orphaned.

Apparently, as a matter of culture, Africans typically don’t allow orphans to end up in orphanages.

When a parent dies from AIDS or a child is abandoned, the extended family will usually step in and care for the child (~90%).

This is huge!

Why?

Because it means that it is essentially impossible to help just orphans.

To help an orphan in Africa, you have to help the whole family. And, by extension, the whole community.

Which leads to #2 and #3 below.

#2. Creating Jobs

When you buy my book, you’ll read about how I became an Ambassador for the Global Orphan Project.

In this role, I have one core responsibility.

That is, to encourage people (like you) to buy Made in Africa products.

Buying made in Africa products helps to create jobs in these communities which in turn helps maintain the extended family structure that currently protects orphans.

#3 Giving Back

With the exception of Story Story, I donate 100% of the proceeds from this blog.

This means that every time you share the blog posts you enjoy here, you and I are making a difference – together! :)

I also encourage you to get your GoMAD bracelet and even start your own blog.

All of this money goes directly toward supporting the orphans I visited in India last year.

How I Hope to make a difference in the Future

#1. Speaking Up

Like I said, I don’t like to talk much about my work with orphans because it’s hard and it’s not always all glitz and glam.

But as you can see, I’m changing for the better and reforming my ways Lol.

In the future, I won’t shy away from opportunities to address topics like job creation and orphan prevention.

So contact me if you’re looking for a Speaker for your school or conference.

#2. Shaping Policies

My personal person, Mo Onemola-Adewunmi, did an awesome job speaking at an event earlier this week.

Her talk and many of the conversations it engendered got me thinking more seriously about policies and politics.

The specifics of how I can help shape better policies are still quite vague in my mind but the idea is there, hazily glowing.

I want policies that will create a world where children are protected and not abandoned.

A world where parents are educated, empowered, and enlightened.

The kind of world where a mother doesn’t wake up in the morning wondering whether she should keep her child or give it away.

That’s the kind of world I’m dreaming of.

• What is your main priority right now? Type the first thing that came to your mind :)
• Do you have a blog? Leave the link below
• Are you currently making a difference in some way? how? I wanna know!
• What questions do you have that I haven’t addressed in this post?