A new place in my heart...

I don't know if I am allowed to do this, but I found some of the blog accounts of the 30 children who visited South Africa and became Global Ambassadors of their community through the outreach of the Journey for Change Program.

The tears that well up in my eyes from reading their posts is hard to control, not from sadness, but for the overwhelming feeling of knowing that these kids get it. I don't know what the lasting impact of this opportunity will be, but the possibilities are endless.

In reference to We Are All The Same by Jim Wooten, a known author who wrote a book inspired by Nkosi Johnson, a boy who died at the age of twelve and only weighed twenty pounds. He had the AIDS virus which he had from birth. His mom died when Nkosi was only two years old. He also had a lot going on in his life, and at age eleven he spoke at an International Conference on AIDS held in Durban, South Africa. Well, Nkosi as a young child impacted a person like me at age 14. That he inspired me to talk about him many years later after he passed is a great thing for me. Nkosi Johnson mentions that, “We are all human beings. We are normal… We can walk. We can talk. We have needs, just like everyone else… we are the same.” I also think that any child with AIDS should always live a healthy life and people in general should always: “Treat everyone the same as they would like to be treated.” That’s my favorite saying.- Latoya Massie, 14

Today was a very good day. First, we went to church, which was very inspirational. At first I was not happy about going to church, but then when I heard my favorite song I was as happy as ever. Then after a few songs it got boring. I think it’s because I don’t go to church so I don’t know what church is about.- Vandesha Walker, 12

I will be in college in five years studying culinary arts and business. In ten years, I will be running my own restaurant and starting a family hopefully living in the suburbs. I want four kids and to travel the world. I want to take my family to Hawaii. I will do an open kitchen at my restaurant every Friday night and people who are hungry can come and eat.
-Wayne Phillips, 15

As a Journey for Change Global Ambassador, it has been an honor to serve others globally and locally. My mom and dad always remind me that we are living for the sake of others. I have learned the true meaning of the word compassion. There are many people who perform acts of kindness to feel better about themselves or just to say that they have done a good deed for the day. That’s not compassion. We do acts of kindness because we see a need and want to see that the need is met. That is true compassion and I think that is what Journey for Change is all about. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters at home and abroad.
–Joshua Hall, 15

Hi my name is Mariah C Ralph. I am 13 years old. I’ve been doing community service since I was 6 years old. I encourage people to do community service because it gives you this feeling… I can’t explain it. When you do community service for so long it becomes a natural habit. It’s going on 8 years that I’ve been doing community service in Manhattan. I love the thought of helping people who really need it. The most exciting community service or global service was when I went to South Africa. When we went shopping for that family who didn’t have anything I felt so good. I felt even better when I saw the grandmother’s face when we gave her the stuff. The best type of community service is when you go to orphanages and you know they haven’t been held in a while. To hold them and feel them grasp back is outstandingly breathtaking. They call you mommy because they don’t know any better and when you put them down because you have to leave it’s heart breaking. So I encourage community service because there are people out there who need more than just the latest phone. There are people who actually don’t need the newest pair of sneakers, but need a pair of sneakers. After I came back from South Africa I realized that I don’t need anything besides a roof over my head for shelter, people who love me, and food and water to survive.
–Mariah Ralph, 13

“I liked cleaning up the neighborhood –- sweeping it and picking up the garbage. I liked that people appreciated our efforts. It helps to communicate to everyone around that we care about our own environment and lives.”
-Sydney Smart, 12

“I learned a lot in Washington, D.C. I mostly enjoyed touring the colleges. At Howard University, I learned that the Power Tower Clock is the highest point in D.C., not the Washington Monument. I also learned that the chapel there is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X first met. There we also met with the University President’s wife and had a tour guided by some of the students who attend Howard. At Georgetown University I found out that they can actually pay your tuition for you. They also have cannons that are the only weapons that can point at the White House.
While we were in Washington we also met Congresswomen Maxine Waters and saw the work place of Barack Obama when he was a Senator. Besides that we did things that people would normally do when they visit Washington, D.C. like going to monuments and museums. We also had an excellent driver, Al. He informed us about many sites in D.C. that most likely we wouldn’t have noticed or known if he hadn’t told us.”
-Dasia Carr, 12