Simple changes...

On my way home one day I realised that I hadn't finished my lunch that I packed in for the day. My friend then told me to give it to a homeless person, which I sometimes do when I have leftovers. Then as I was driving, I spotted this young boy in a rugged, over-sized top and called him over so that I could give him my lunch. The road was very busy and he didn’t manage to get to me, so I decided to turn my car around and get to him. I did not succeed and had to keep driving on. My heart was broken, because I really wanted to give this young boy my food. So, I carried on driving, looking for another homeless person and eventually found one. I was happy that I could give him my sandwich as I’m sure he was very hungry and it felt good to do good for someone else.

As I was driving and looking for a homeless person, many thoughts crossed my mind. I thought to myself...to prepare an extra sandwich everyday is effortless and inexpensive. What if everyone could just pack in an extra sandwich everyday and give it to any homeless person they see along the road?

We all have so much. Giving away one sandwich a day will do us no harm at all and we would be helping another human being. It’s an extremely simple concept, but yet nobody does it. I wish we could implement small, simple concepts and make gradual changes in South Africa. I believe the problems we have are simple and if we all just put a little effort into helping make our country a better place we can achieve so much more, in a much quicker time!

There is so much work to be done in our country, especially labour work. Yes, we lack a lot of skilled workers, but what about small important jobs such as maintaining gardens or cleaning the city. All the people on the street sit around everyday expecting people to give them money, which I believe is a pathetic attitude to have. If they could just do one of these small, important jobs and earn even as little as R100 per day, they could buy them a meal, a toothbrush or deodorant. They could buy them the basics they need to live and who knows where they could go from there? It’s all about attitude.

All these concepts are simple and easy to achieve. I question everyday why they just can’t be done? Simple efforts can make big changes... Human beings complicate their own lives and do it so well.

Perhaps I am idealistic in my way of thinking? I don’t think so, but that’s just me.