.the princess portal.

photo by Sabrina Wong

On Saturday I volunteered to help raise funds for the Starlight Foundation, a charity that works to brighten the lives of seriously ill children. Its a very worthwhile cause and as we discovered, quite well known and respected in the community. Here is a brief description from their website:

Living with illness or injury can cause enormous strain in the lives of children and their families. The pain, loneliness and isolation that sick children feel dominates their lives, and they often miss out on normal experiences that healthy children take for granted.

Physical recovery is only part of the solution. Starlight delivers innovative programs designed to make children happy and lift their spirits when they need it most. Starlight brings fun and laughter to children no matter what their illness or where they live.

Sab and I arrived at the shopping center in the mid morning and were handed coin collection tins and bags of light up wands and christmas decorations to sell. We were hoping they would have shirts to lend us with the charity logo, but unfortunately they had run out so we had to go as is. We started out on a circuit of the center, talking to people and asking for donations or selling the wands and decorations. The wands were quite popular with children because they flash when lit up and we managed to sell a fair few.

It was really interesting to see the reactions people had to our efforts. Some would look right through us, or hurry away quickly, others would politely decline and a few rifled through their bags for spare change to give us. We began to see a pattern in the sort of people likely to donate, and also discovered it was better to ask people who were sitting or standing then those hurrying about. Its given me a lot more respect for people who do give up their time to collect donations, it can take a lot of effort and determination, especially when you are so often turned down.

In the end, after 3 hours of walking around our tins were very heavy and we were nearly out of wands. We returned to the desk and thanked the lady there. I’m not sure how much we raised, but it certainly weighed a lot!

I really enjoyed this months challenge and found it one of the most fulfilling I’ve done so far. Thanks to Sab for joining me, it was definitely much more fun with good company! How is your December Princess Challenge going?

photo by mannequin

December 2008 Princess Challenge
(if this is your first challenge, please read the original post here)

The Holiday season is upon us now, and whether you’re looking forward to celebrating a white Christmas or a warm, sunny one like I am, it is certainly the season for giving. This December for our Princess Challenge we’re going to take that giving spirit a little further and participate in a Charity. Whether you choose to volunteer, donate food or gifts, help raise funds or spread awareness, you can take part in a Charity of your choice and share your experience with us.

photo by OiMax

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. - Audrey Hepburn

True beauty, the sort of beauty that lasts through the years and does not fade, that is found primarily in the heart but leaves its traces on the eyes, the smile, the manners of a Princess, comes only and purely through loving others and accepting the love you are given.

It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness. - Marie Antoinette

True friends make time for you even when they are weighed down by their own issues and troubles. The compassion shown to you by others is a real treasure, and it is our duty to return it in kind. Go out of your way to make the people in your life feel special and loved, even if you’re having a bad day.

I think the biggest disease the world suffers from in this day and age is the disease of people feeling unloved. I know that I can give love for a minute, for half an hour, for a day, for a month, but I can give. I am very happy to do that, I want to do that. - Princess Diana

We have many needs in life, food, water, shelter, safety and we also need love. There is a sort of poverty in not feeling loved and accepted. Remember that you can never give too much love, your heart will not be used up. The more love you give away freely, may it be so simple as a warm smile, the more love you have to give.

One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying. - Joan of Arc

Life is so so short and precious. To live a single day pretending to be someone you’re not, without believing in ourselves and eachother is such a waste. Be proud of who you are, stand up for what you believe in even if other people criticise you for it. Better to be true to yourself than to live under the pressure of other people’s opinions and expectations.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. - Anne Frank

We often lament that there is so much wrong with the world, that nothing we could do would make a difference and seem but the tiniest drop in the ocean. That is what the ocean is made up of after all, tiny drops. You can make a difference, just the smallest act of kindness creates countless little ripples that have greater effect than the grandest good intention.

This is an unusual post for me, partially because I was brought up to believe that Charity is something you do and not something you talk about, and also because I don’t normally post videos here. However, I was linked to The Girl Effect by my friend Emily, and I found this video and site so moving and motivational. I believe it is relevant to all girls, the world over.

What is The Girl Effect? The world is a mess, we need change and that change can start with a single girl. Girls in third world countries suffer some of the greatest disadvantages of any human beings on this planet, they face not only poverty and disease but a loss of personal rights within their own culture. However given just a little bit of assistance, they have the potential to cause the greatest change and give the most back to their community.

Check out the site, tell you friends, make a donation (you can actually choose which organizations to donate to which I think is fantastic!) and help to raise awareness, because every girl is a Princess and deserves an equal chance.