How many villas can a person have?

Founder of SOS Children's Villages, Hermann Gmeiner
together with children in Poá, Brazil
Photo: Alexander Gabriel

Henning Mankell, one of Sweden's most popular authors, whose books have been translated into many languages, decided that it was time to do something about the 800 000 orphaned children in Mocambique, so from his own quite large pocket he extracted 15 million Swedish crowns, which is roughly 1,5 million Euros. Together with one of my favorite organisations SOS Children's Villages, he is building a village for 150 orphaned children in a country he has spent almost 25 years living in off and on.

According to Svenska Dagbladet Mankell was surprised that more people with larger fortunes didn't do the same.

"How many villas can a person have?" he replied.

You can follow Charles Kiyimba, official SOS Children's Village Blogger as he with words and pictures unfolds the reality and everyday going ons at the Children's Village Gulu in Uganda.

Literally living in a Box

Cairo: Taken on my recent trip to the "mother of the world". I stopped as I saw Ahmad arranging his bottles in his makeshift home.

-"Can I take your picture please?" I asked him.
-"My picture? But why? You know you can get into trouble for that. The authority doesn't want scenes like this to be spread around the world."

As odd as it was the he lived in a box, what was even more remarkable was his resigned attitude towards his situation. He didn't ask for a penny although he was clearly in need. What do you say to a man like that?

To the Egyptian authorities however I would like to say, "3eib 3aleykom". (Shame on you)