Recently, I came across a website (www.sparrowclubs.org), which some of you may already know about. My heart went out to these lovely children.

Sparrowclubs.org is owned by Sparrow Clubs USA. It’s a US based national non-profit organization that assist and support children who have critical medical health issues including disabilities, and their families are experiencing serious financial problems as a result of these conditions. The Sparrow clubs are school-based and normally involve young children (youth groups) and the school as a whole. The club embarks on a Sparrow project and adopts ‘a Sparrow’ (a new child) and does community service and fundraising on behalf of the child for that year.

What fascinated me about the Sparrow clubs is the concept of ‘kids-helping-kids’. These children engage in community service and fundraising on behalf of their Sparrow – the child.

When a child is given the opportunity to help another, it influences the way the child perceives other children with physical or health challenges. It helps build their character and conscience. Personally, I agree that young heroes are being nurtured here. Young heroes of today could become super heroes of tomorrow. Children are learning from a very tender age that helping others is a virtue. This can only lead to a better culture and ultimately a better society for everyone.

The world needs super heroes more than ever before, in a world where perpetrators of violence now capitalise on the innocence of children to carry out shocking wicked acts, the need to build a culture of love and aid rather than destruction can not be ignored.

This project brought back to mind a poetry I wrote some years back. The title of the poetry was, ‘Hit by an Arrow’. However, to make the poem more realistic to this cause, I have changed the title to, ‘Help this little Sparrow’ and I have changed the poetry itself to some extent.

So pretty yet so small Her escape had been so narrow

Fluttering and huddling against a wall Her gaps so painful to swallow

Looking at her my mind enthral, Yet in her distress she wallow

Her breath was constant but so shallow

I could see her lovely eyes rolling like a ball

Pain! I could feel it to my marrow

Looking up I saw a tree so tall

What was the cause of her fall?

Who had caused her so much sorrow?

Man is such a cruel fellow

This pain I wish I could forestall

But she began to cringe at my shadow

Now, such act I wanted to stall

Could she survive until tomorrow?

I looked around for a nest to borrow

Draped around my neck was my lady’s shawl

Very carefully, I caught and lifted up this little Sparrow

I wrapped her up in this delicate stole just as the rain began to fall

Softly, I lifted up my voice to call

O God, you are such a good fellow

And your eye is on this little Sparrow

I know you care so much for all

Please Lord, help save this dear dear Sparrow!

I live in the UK, but children are children. No matter where we are, in the north or in the south. No matter which corner of this earthly globe we reside, there’s a little Sparrow out there crying for help. These Sparrows may be wounded, abused or physically challenged; the ball is in our court to do what we can to help these priceless little angels.

‘Money is never everything; but love, compassion and a helping hand can add up to many things’.

I have included two versions of this music video – His eye on the sparrow.