Changing Lives Cymru
CHANGING LIVES CYMRU is Ewegottalove’s way of reaching out to good causes, not only in Wales and the UK, but across the world in places such as India, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the Philippines.
It came into being back in 2004 when a Boxing Day tsunami slammed into the Indian Ocean coastline after a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the northern tip of Sumatra in Indonesia.
As families in far-away places like Wales were enjoying their Christmas celebrations, disaster struck in the most devastating fashion. What is believed to be the deadliest tsunami in history killed in the region of 230,000 people across 14 countries.
Welsh journalist Jeremy King, working for the national newspaper of Wales, the Western Mail, watched the tragedy unfold on the television news and immediately knew he had to do something, however small, to help.
A celebrity auction was quickly set up and, thanks to items generously donated by well-known names in Wales, thousands of pounds were raised for the Tsunami Relief Fund.
Still in Asia, Jeremy, next turned his attention to India, taking part in several gruelling cycle rides around the country to raise funds for orphaned, abandoned and destitute children in Andhra Pradesh.
Creating Changing Lives Cymru and again using celebrity donations to boost fundraising, Jeremy made use of social media campaigns and crowdfunding to help those caught in the Indian poverty trap, calling on almost 40 years’ experience in journalism to act as communications officer for two contrasting non-profit organisations.
During his time in India, he worked closely with the most downtrodden people in India, the Dalit and tribal communities facing daily struggle for survival, living on waste ground, dump sites and in inner-city slums. The focus was always on using education as a major weapon for change. alongside urgently-needed healthcare and feeding programmes.
An extended charitable offensive in India involved the sponsorship of numerous disadvantaged children in India, with the long-term satisfaction of seeing many of them enter further education and find well-paid jobs to break the cycle of generational poverty.
Sponsorship was also provided to children in Zimbabwe, via Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children, and, later, Kenya, once again with the emphasis on escaping child labour in favour of gaining school and college qualifications.
Back home in Wales, Jeremy volunteered as a counsellor for three years with the NSPCC’s ChildLine programme and several winters assisting with Operation Christmas Child’s Shoebox Appeal, while also raising funds for The Alzheimer’s Society.
Currently, Changing Lives Cymru is attempting to raise funds to support children and families living in the poorer provinces of the Philippines, with the aim of providing financing for school supplies and sports equipment, health support and food-growing programmes.
WATCH: Typhoon/earthquake double whammy hits Philippines
Any organisations or individuals wishing for more information about how to get involved, or to enquire about making donations or raising funds for Changing Lives Cymru, please e-mail Jeremy King at ewegottalove.online@gmail.com.
Images: CHANGING LIVES CYMRU GALLERY