"In 2005 my daughter's life changed

and so did the lives of her family"

My daughter, Ashley, at the age of 19 went to South Africa with five other students as a volunteer for the organization Edzimkulu. www.edzimkulu.org.  These six young students started the first International Social Work Practicum with the Red Deer College.

The moment she told me she was going…my life changed.  I have to say that my entire life was lived in a bubble on the Prairies of Canada up to this point.  The knowledge that I now have on the subject of Africa is small but I must say I am constantly learning and that I now want to learn.  I have now left the bubble that I was living in.

When Ashley was home from South Africa, I mistakenly said to her… "Wish I could help but I do not know what to do? "  She turned and said "JUST DO SOMETHING".  Well …. Did I feel stupid at that moment!  Still did not know what to do…but I knew enough to keep it to myself.

Then One day at a Woman's Day trade fair, I was introduced to Holly, who wanted to put together a trade fair of her own at a school.  Well at that moment I knew … it is time to use what I know and to call on the people I know.  Proud to say, with the help of great friends & family, September 27th, 2008 we held a "Global Citizen Awareness Day" at the Springbank School.

Our Mission Statement:  Give "Global Citizens" a place so they may share there stories and have the opportunity to inspire others to go out and make a difference.  Imagine a gymnasium full of like minded people who have all with a thought made a difference!

I am sure I was not the only naive Albertan that had no idea how to help people thousands of miles away.  This trade fair was full of Global Citizen's who answered the questions of these people who wanted to help but did not know how.  The stories were shared with the intention of hoping to inspire others to go out and "JUST DO SOMETHING!"

We also raised $1,000.00.  It helped two students go to the "Me to We" conference in Toronto.

Knowledge does have power!

I created this website with the same intention as the "Global Citizen Awareness Day" … to share stories with the intention of hoping to inspire others to go out and "JUST DO SOMETHING!"

Margaret Mackay