Here is something very, very close to my heart...

We all know a little something about the massive AIDS crisis which remains worst in Southern Africa, particularly in South Africa. More than 450 are being orphaned every day in South Africa alone. This is massive! An entire generation of children could very seriously become a lost generation without a huge amount of help.

The UN and other sources estimate that there are around 2 million children without parents in Southern Africa and that this will grow to over 3 million orphans in the next few years. This crisis is huge, very real and very serious.

One solution is that people adopt these children and in many such cases children are taken overseas to a completely different culture...

Another solution which I believe is more sustainable and more far-reaching is for these children to stay with their siblings within their communities and for NGOs to help support them.

This is where the incredible and excellent charity called Starfish comes in.

Starfish was founded in 2001 by a group of South Africans in a London coffee shop. It started by helping 250 orphans. It's model has been such a huge success that now, in 2007, it supports over 30 000 children. It's aim now is to support 100 000 by 2010.

Starfish supports these local communities throughout the country giving all kinds of support to the caregivers and children themselves. Giving these children life, hope and opportunity - a real future.

Anyone and everyone, anywhere in the world, can support Starfish and donate funds and/or raise funds, thanks to the internet. Please take the time to visit the website www.starfishcharity.org and read more about it and find out how you can make a very real difference in the lives of a whole generation of very vulnerable children.

Thank you to all of you who have read this, please spread the word and help in any way you can!

You can make a difference.

Alison x

visit:
www.starfishcharity.org