"You don't need to experience poverty to be compassionate."
My life has been pretty easy so far.
In May of 1996, I was born into a loving, financially secure home, in what used to be a great place to live. My brother was born two years and forty days later, and we have had an amazing childhood together. My parents did and will continue to stay together. I have a big and beautiful family. We sold our house and moved into a bigger house in a better town. I now go to university on what has been described to me as a prestigious culinary degree, one of the first in its kind. Apart from "the incident" in 2006, (click here for the blog post on what happened) we've been somewhat fine.
In May of 1996, I was born into a loving, financially secure home, in what used to be a great place to live. My brother was born two years and forty days later, and we have had an amazing childhood together. My parents did and will continue to stay together. I have a big and beautiful family. We sold our house and moved into a bigger house in a better town. I now go to university on what has been described to me as a prestigious culinary degree, one of the first in its kind. Apart from "the incident" in 2006, (click here for the blog post on what happened) we've been somewhat fine.
I have never had to go without a meal. Or go without clothes. Or sleep in a cold house. We have never been evicted, and to my knowledge, we have never been behind on the mortgage either. But if there were times when things were hard, our parents didn't let my brother and I know.
So we've just always been happy.
But that's sadly not the case for a few of our neighbours. And friends. Where we used to live (East London) and where we live now (Essex), there is and will continue to be a growing percentage of people that live below the poverty line.
When my parents started their charity back in the winter of 2010, the following summer left a 15-year-old Christina (and her 13-year-old brother) with nothing to do with their summer holiday. So instead of staying at home all six weeks and watching television, we became fully immersed in charity work for Tower Hamlets Foodbank.
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| The skyline of Canary Wharf at night. Source: Google Images |
***DISCLAIMER - For those of you that may not know, Canary Wharf is a place in East London which is a major, major business district. It's where a lot of the top banks are located in Britain, and naturally, a lot of money would pass through this area every day. Canary Wharf is in the borough of Tower Hamlets.***
Tower Hamlets is the third most deprived borough in the UK. With 70% of its residents living below the poverty line. 52% of its children live below the poverty line.
I saw kids come into food collection centers - who were my age and younger - that hadn't eaten for days, because their parent/s didn't have any available income, in order to feed them. There were ladies maybe, ten years older than me, that had been married young, and abused to the point where they have no choice but to run away with their children. There were people there who had become depressed and, therefore, unable to work. There were people that had been fired from their jobs or had lost a loved one or maybe had a different traumatic experience. And one particular story - something that touched me and will likely stay with me forever - a person had to result to sleeping on friend's floors, because she was disowned by her family - for NO reason. No reason, everyone. Her family decided they didn't like her anymore, and so cut all ties with her. And guess how old she was? Sixteen - Just a year older than me, if that. And there was no reason behind it.
And please bear in mind that despite, what can only be described as unfortunate (avoidable) circumstances, Canary Wharf still sits tall and proud across the road from this instability.
The juxtaposition of the circumstances left me heartbroken. I finally got it. I was so blessed to be where I was, and born into the family I'm in. These defining instances convinced me that with whatever I do, whatever I become, with all I am, I must find a way to give back. Because in these times, where the poor become poorer and the rich become richer, there's a much bigger need for those who can, to support our community. Unfortunately, under a Conservative government, the lives of the poor won't become any easier.
There's no reason a single soul should live in poverty.
And please bear in mind that despite, what can only be described as unfortunate (avoidable) circumstances, Canary Wharf still sits tall and proud across the road from this instability.
The juxtaposition of the circumstances left me heartbroken. I finally got it. I was so blessed to be where I was, and born into the family I'm in. These defining instances convinced me that with whatever I do, whatever I become, with all I am, I must find a way to give back. Because in these times, where the poor become poorer and the rich become richer, there's a much bigger need for those who can, to support our community. Unfortunately, under a Conservative government, the lives of the poor won't become any easier.
There's no reason a single soul should live in poverty.
Just a thought,
Christina x
Read about Tower Hamlets Foodbank HERE
^They are launching a new website soon, please stay updated via their social media.
Read about 'The Incident' HERE
Read about volunteering HERE
Read about ways to support Tower Hamlets Foodbank HERE
*I was not asked or paid to talk about Tower Hamlets Foodbank.
^They are launching a new website soon, please stay updated via their social media.
Read about 'The Incident' HERE
Read about volunteering HERE
Read about ways to support Tower Hamlets Foodbank HERE
*I was not asked or paid to talk about Tower Hamlets Foodbank.
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