The Gift of Warmth

This layout is from WhateverLife.com; get yours today!Giving it All is a series of feature articles on the generosity of humans, the power they possess, and the gifts they give to the world. To read more in the series, please click the author's other articles link at right.There’s an old saying that people past a certain age tend to mutter to themselves, “Youth is wasted on the young.” That may have been true of past generations, but today’s mutterers have never met the four young women from San Diego who are doing anything but wasting their youth.Inspired by the movie Invisible Children, a film about northern Uganda’s children, some as young as 8-years-old, who are kidnapped nightly and forced into the roles of soldier and killer in that region’s long-running brutal conflict, Jennifer (age 21), Jessica (age 21), Lauren (age 20), and Ashley (age 21), refuse to buy into the old adage. Instead, the four young college students have formed the not-for-profit group, The Gift of Warm (TGOW). “After seeing Invisible Children we all wanted to make a change -- some how, some way. We created this (The Gift of Warmth) in hopes that we too would be able to impact the lives of children in need,” says the group’s spokesperson, Jennifer .The fledgling group, armed with hope and a desire to make a difference, have dedicated themselves to providing African children with essentials. “We’re collecting items of clothing, blankets, and educational supplies. Basically, tools that will help to bring a positive future to these children’s lives,” says Jennifer. “Our beginning goal is to reach out to Uganda and with time expand to different places where children are in need.”With the guidance of San Diego Miramar College anthropology professor, Dr. Corrie Ort, The Gift of Warmth is currently researching the many African charities that have already contacted them regarding their project. Jennifer describes their mission of love by saying, “All of this energy will be going to these children. We ourselves can’t pull them out of their atmosphere, but we can give them warmth from all of us who love them. We can let them see that their futures have a bright light.”In addition to committing themselves to their cause, all four TGOW members are full-time college students and all hold part-time jobs. It’s a tall order but with the support of friends and family, and their recently established page at MySpace (where there is an already strong contingency of charities networking to reach like minded individuals), the group feels confident they can make their goals a reality.It takes true soul, honesty, persistence and determination to change the world. You need a movement! If people were to stand up for what they felt needed changing, together there would be a change.” These are not the lofty ideals of youth, but rather the vision of ones who transend age. As Slade explains it, “(If) one person can make a difference, a group of people can change the world.”Clearly youth is not wasted on this generation of the young.You can become a part of The Gift of Warmth by donating items or your time. Please contact them at [email protected]