I will admit that one of my vices is reading celebrity magazines. I am sure I am not the only one considering circulation ratings and the population of worldwide audiences. Sometimes I do come across an interesting article that touches home. I love reading about famous personalities who are using their celebrity to further a cause rather than just sitting back and enjoying their fame and fortune. These individuals recognize they can give back and contribute to a noteworthy cause. One such celebrity is Angelina Jolie, a UNHCR’s Goodwill Ambassador, who recently wrote a heart wrenching article about Syria and the horrifying effects and casualties of war in the New York Times January 27, 2015 edition. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Jolie travels the world and utilizes her influence and popularity to bring humanitarian issues to the forefront and draw attention to the great humanitarian need worldwide.
Recently while reading In Style magazine, March 2015 issue, I found an article sharing the good deeds of another celebrity. The magazine contained an article featuring Australian actress Toni Collette as the first global ambassador representing Concern Worldwide, a non-governmental organization whose mission is to fight extreme poverty worldwide.
Collette, has joined the forces of other celebrities to help shine a light on the suffering in poverty stricken countries. As an award winning actress born in Australia and known for such hits as “The Sixth Sense”, “Muriel’s Wedding” and “Little Miss Sunshine”, Toni is able to use her celebrity to draw attention to countries and their citizens in need. Like Jolie, Collette is using her influence to help an organization reach out to further a great cause. As a representative of Concern Worldwide, her first trip as ambassador took her to Haiti to see the organization’s work firsthand. Ms. Collette spoke about the continued need in Haiti and five years after the earthquake in 2010, the fact that families are still living under tarps and without the basic necessities of food, clean water and access to basic health care. The work of Concern Worldwide in Haiti is trying to break the cycle of poverty through education and by fostering financial independence.
I remember with clarity the number of phone calls that came in from prospective adoptive parents reaching out and wanting to offer a home to a child in need in Haiti immediately following the earthquake. As the months then years dwindled by the interest lagged, yet the need is still there as evidenced by this article.
Donating to an NGO such as Concern Worldwide is a step in the right direction to aleviate the struggles and suffering of the poor. Shining a light on the war in Syria and the devastating lasting effects of an earthquake in an impoverished country like Haiti are steps in the right direction. However, taking it one step further and making the decision to adopt a child in need truly provides a child a loving home through adoption and should be considered not only as an avenue to expand your family but also as an opportunity to offer an orphaned child in need a loving family a permanent home, food, education and access to health care. We don’t all need to be celebrities to offer assistance, we can have an impact, no matter how small, on even the life of one child. If we can do this we can have an impact towards ending the suffering of orphans and poverty crisis in the world.
To learn more about adopting from Haiti, please contact us.
Sonja Brown
Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.
Sonja Brown
Sonja Brown works as the International Program Director for MLJ Adoptions’ programs in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti and Samoa. Sonja is also proud to work directly with our Individualized Country Program families who are adopting from countries where no adoption service providers currently operate.