Identify Yourself With The Poor

We spent the majority of our day in Umtata, a larger city about 45 minutes from our home base in Malungeni. The photos that I am sharing are from a small community known as Itipini. AIAIA has been partnered with this community for over fifteen years. Initially we connected with Itipini when it was located on a local garbage dump. The government disbanded the community and the garbage dump was closed. AIAIA managed to stay in contact with the diaspora and have partnered with this community through many difficult and challenging times. The level of poverty for this community of three hundred is very challenging for both the local larger community, as well as the government. The men, women and children of Itipini are truly the forgotten in many ways. AIAIA provides vital food parcels which makes all the difference for a community that lives in the midst of abject poverty. We have come home to Malungeni at the end of this day. I express my gratitude to those back home that empower AIAIA to make a difference for Itipini. Today, we were in solidarity with the poor and we made a change for good.

I honor this day with the wisdom of Gandhi;

“My experience tells me that the Kingdom of God is within us, and that we can realize it not by saying, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but by doing God’s will and work. If therefore we wait for the Kingdom to come as something coming from outside, we shall be sadly mistaken. Do you know that there are thousands of villages where people are starving and which are on the brink of ruin? If we would listen to the voice of God, I assure you we would hear God say that we are taking God’s name in vain if we do not think of the poor and help them. If you cannot render the help that they need, it is no use talking of service to God and service to the poor. TRY TO IDENTIFY YOURSELVES WITH THE POOR BY ACTUALLY HELPING THEM…..

I again thank you for your ongoing financial support and willingness to partner with AIAIA.

James Cassidy, President AIAIA