Reality check

It occurred to me last night - and weirdly my sister had exactly the same thought because her email about it was waiting for me at work this morning - that for the price of the Roland Mouret dress I tried on four times and almost bought (like the one below but black), I could sponsor two children at Sok Sabay for a year.

Looking at it from that perspective, I can't help feeling a bit ashamed about coveting that dress.

I have been sent a picture of the child we are sponsoring. She is six years old and beautiful. Who needs dresses?

Sok Sabay

Sok Sabay is an orphanage in Pnomh Penh, Cambodia, which takes in children who have been rescued from dire situations (Cambodia is the poorest country in Asia and many children live in unimaginable squalor and deprivation) and gives them the chance to have a normal, happy childhood.

http://www.soksabay.com/mainEnglish.html

My friend Michelle and her husband Peter are sponsoring a 9 year old girl and the communication they've had about her, from the French woman who runs the orphanage, is heart-rending but also full of hope because thier donations are actually making a difference.

Before coming to the orphanage their little girl had never been given a present by anyone.

At the risk of sounding mawkish, this is something so life-enhancing for the children of the orphanage that every one of us living in privilege should be thinking about doing this.