O Sacred Season of Autumn
I want to begin by sharing an excerpt from one of my favorite poems.
“O sacred season of Autumn, be my teacher, for I wish to learn the virtue of contentment. Teach me to take stock of what I have given and received, may I know that it’s enough, that my striving can cease in the abundance of God’s grace. As you, O Autumn, take pleasure in your great bounty, let me also take delight in the abundance of the simple things in life which are the true source of joy.””
For more than 20 years, I have reached out on behalf of Arm in Arm in Africa in the month of Thanksgiving to ask for your financial support for our various partnerships in South Africa. I am looking forward to celebrating with all of you on the weekend of Nov. 13–14 at St. Joan of Arc Church. Your willingness to remain steadfast in your support of our mission is truly a source of great joy and contentment. You make a difference in the lives of many men, women, and children halfway around the world.
I am making a choice this year to focus on the importance of education. If you will recall, Bantu education — also known as gutter/inferior education — was part of the apartheid system. It was passed into law through the 1953 Bantu Education Act. The law was designed to ensure that black students could only aspire to be day laborers,
as opposed to having the quality education offered to white students. It was illegal for a black student to have more than a fourth-grade education. The long-term negative effects of this unjust education system continue to be felt to this very day.
It has been said that “if you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” In addition to healthcare and food distribution, AIAIA understands the need for quality education. It is key to making a lasting difference in the lives of all young people in Africa. I know from more than 20 years of sharing the journey with our South African young people that they are “determined to learn, and nothing will stop them.” I am simply and wholeheartedly asking you to continue to partner with AIAIA and financially support our shared efforts to enhance the education of these young people.
I am so honored and content to share the AIAIA journey. I look forward to our AIAIA Weekend on Nov. 13–14. If you are not able to attend, I would ask that you consider donating online at aiaia.org.
In gratitude and thanksgiving,
James Cassidy, AIAIA President