I want to introduce you to a girl called maryam she’s 11 years old just to touch
maryam she’s 11 years old just to touch
maryam she’s 11 years old just to touch older than my own two daughters Zoey and
older than my own two daughters Zoey and
older than my own two daughters Zoey and Ava she likes reading writing and
Ava she likes reading writing and
Ava she likes reading writing and hanging out with their friends while my
hanging out with their friends while my
hanging out with their friends while my girls are lucky enough to be able to
girls are lucky enough to be able to
girls are lucky enough to be able to swim at the mount here in tearing her
swim at the mount here in tearing her
swim at the mount here in tearing her maryam lived here
I might see right and while I grew up in
I might see right and while I grew up in Hawke’s Bay relief aid the organization
Hawke’s Bay relief aid the organization
Hawke’s Bay relief aid the organization that I founded delivers aid to families
that I founded delivers aid to families
that I founded delivers aid to families living in war zones such as Syria people
living in war zones such as Syria people
living in war zones such as Syria people often ask me what’s it like working in a
often ask me what’s it like working in a
often ask me what’s it like working in a war zone bloody difficult is probably
war zone bloody difficult is probably
war zone bloody difficult is probably the best way to describe it you go to
the best way to describe it you go to
the best way to describe it you go to work in the morning wondering if you’re
work in the morning wondering if you’re
work in the morning wondering if you’re going to get hit in an airstrike you
going to get hit in an airstrike you
going to get hit in an airstrike you check the road outside your home to see
check the road outside your home to see
check the road outside your home to see if anyone’s waiting to kidnap you and
if anyone’s waiting to kidnap you and
if anyone’s waiting to kidnap you and what little sleep you get and there’s
what little sleep you get and there’s
what little sleep you get and there’s not a lot of there
not a lot of there
not a lot of there is broken by the sounds of fighting and
is broken by the sounds of fighting and
is broken by the sounds of fighting and shelling outside your home but working
shelling outside your home but working
shelling outside your home but working in the worst places in the world is also
in the worst places in the world is also
in the worst places in the world is also truly inspiring and I count myself lucky
truly inspiring and I count myself lucky
truly inspiring and I count myself lucky to do the work that I do while you see a
to do the work that I do while you see a
to do the work that I do while you see a great deal of death and destruction
great deal of death and destruction
great deal of death and destruction you also see humanity at its very best
you also see humanity at its very best
you also see humanity at its very best and this humanity has shown me that
and this humanity has shown me that
and this humanity has shown me that while we may look different we’re
while we may look different we’re
while we may look different we’re different clothes or have different
different clothes or have different
different clothes or have different homes families are fundamentally the
homes families are fundamentally the
homes families are fundamentally the same the world over I was privileged to
same the world over I was privileged to
same the world over I was privileged to see this in human a few years ago I was
see this in human a few years ago I was
see this in human a few years ago I was working in the north of the country on
working in the north of the country on
working in the north of the country on the saudi yemen border delivering
the saudi yemen border delivering
the saudi yemen border delivering medical aid a massive bombing campaign
medical aid a massive bombing campaign
medical aid a massive bombing campaign was underway targeting schools hospitals
was underway targeting schools hospitals
was underway targeting schools hospitals and cities such as sada where I was
and cities such as sada where I was
and cities such as sada where I was living one of the things we do when we
living one of the things we do when we
living one of the things we do when we set up a hospital in these war zones as
set up a hospital in these war zones as
set up a hospital in these war zones as we share our GPS coordinates our
we share our GPS coordinates our
we share our GPS coordinates our location with the warring parties but
location with the warring parties but
location with the warring parties but despite this our hospitals hospitals
despite this our hospitals hospitals
despite this our hospitals hospitals such as this one were still being
such as this one were still being
such as this one were still being attacked even having worked in war zones
attacked even having worked in war zones
attacked even having worked in war zones for a long time the situation was
for a long time the situation was
for a long time the situation was particularly difficult airstrikes were
particularly difficult airstrikes were
particularly difficult airstrikes were raining down on us day and night and I
raining down on us day and night and I
raining down on us day and night and I was often forced to rush my team into
was often forced to rush my team into
was often forced to rush my team into our bomb shelter as our building and the
our bomb shelter as our building and the
our bomb shelter as our building and the buildings around us shock from the force
buildings around us shock from the force
buildings around us shock from the force of the explosions we were seeing
of the explosions we were seeing
of the explosions we were seeing thousands
thousands
thousands of critically injured patients each
of critically injured patients each
of critically injured patients each month but one day we were given a rare
month but one day we were given a rare
month but one day we were given a rare gift this gift was little um ‘add had
gift this gift was little um ‘add had
gift this gift was little um ‘add had been admitted to our trauma center after
been admitted to our trauma center after
been admitted to our trauma center after his home had been hit and an airstrike
now I get that it’s difficult for us to
now I get that it’s difficult for us to understand what life is like for
understand what life is like for
understand what life is like for children such as little Amud so as you
children such as little Amud so as you
children such as little Amud so as you sit here today just imagine if right
sit here today just imagine if right
sit here today just imagine if right here right now Corona was surrounded by
here right now Corona was surrounded by
here right now Corona was surrounded by war you’re sitting with your family in
war you’re sitting with your family in
war you’re sitting with your family in your home on the avenues you only have a
your home on the avenues you only have a
your home on the avenues you only have a kerosene lamp for lighting as the last
kerosene lamp for lighting as the last
kerosene lamp for lighting as the last Power Station got destroyed two days
Power Station got destroyed two days
Power Station got destroyed two days before the fighting outside your home is
before the fighting outside your home is
before the fighting outside your home is absolutely intense anti-aircraft guns
absolutely intense anti-aircraft guns
absolutely intense anti-aircraft guns and fighter jets are blasting away
and fighter jets are blasting away
and fighter jets are blasting away around you the walls of your house are
around you the walls of your house are
around you the walls of your house are shaking from the force of the explosions
shaking from the force of the explosions
shaking from the force of the explosions but you continue to play cards Ludo
but you continue to play cards Ludo
but you continue to play cards Ludo cluedo whatever just so your kids don’t
cluedo whatever just so your kids don’t
cluedo whatever just so your kids don’t think about what’s going on outside your
think about what’s going on outside your
think about what’s going on outside your home just when you think things can’t
home just when you think things can’t
home just when you think things can’t get any worse there’s a massive
get any worse there’s a massive
get any worse there’s a massive explosion and a huge shock wave rolls
explosion and a huge shock wave rolls
explosion and a huge shock wave rolls over your home you’re covered in dust
over your home you’re covered in dust
over your home you’re covered in dust and debris that white powdery stuff you
and debris that white powdery stuff you
and debris that white powdery stuff you see on other news articles and you look
see on other news articles and you look
see on other news articles and you look up to see your child about to be crushed
up to see your child about to be crushed
up to see your child about to be crushed by a falling wall what do you do as a
by a falling wall what do you do as a
by a falling wall what do you do as a parent what do we do do you run for
parent what do we do do you run for
parent what do we do do you run for cover or do you protect your kids well
cover or do you protect your kids well
cover or do you protect your kids well this was exactly the choice faced by
this was exactly the choice faced by
this was exactly the choice faced by armored uncle and father when they dived
armored uncle and father when they dived
armored uncle and father when they dived on top of him to protect him from the
on top of him to protect him from the
on top of him to protect him from the blast at their home this selfless act an
blast at their home this selfless act an
blast at their home this selfless act an act in
act in
act in of us would do for our own kids
of us would do for our own kids
of us would do for our own kids undoubtedly saved his life
undoubtedly saved his life
undoubtedly saved his life I would still sustained serious injuries
I would still sustained serious injuries
I would still sustained serious injuries including Boone’s down one side of his
including Boone’s down one side of his
including Boone’s down one side of his body but our doctors were able to patch
body but our doctors were able to patch
body but our doctors were able to patch him up and he was later discharged from
him up and he was later discharged from
him up and he was later discharged from us from our hospital alive so I give as
us from our hospital alive so I give as
us from our hospital alive so I give as we sit here at the Trinity today that
we sit here at the Trinity today that
we sit here at the Trinity today that war zones such as Syria and Yemen may
war zones such as Syria and Yemen may
war zones such as Syria and Yemen may seem a long way away but as I’ve seen
seem a long way away but as I’ve seen
seem a long way away but as I’ve seen families really are the same the world
families really are the same the world
families really are the same the world over so how does a small town Hawke’s
over so how does a small town Hawke’s
over so how does a small town Hawke’s Bay lead his father’s the teacher and
Bay lead his father’s the teacher and
Bay lead his father’s the teacher and mothers a nurse get to delivering aid on
mothers a nurse get to delivering aid on
mothers a nurse get to delivering aid on the world’s front lines like many of us
the world’s front lines like many of us
the world’s front lines like many of us here today I win abroad and did my big
here today I win abroad and did my big
here today I win abroad and did my big OE like pretty much all Kiwis I ended up
OE like pretty much all Kiwis I ended up
OE like pretty much all Kiwis I ended up in London surprise surprise and I got
in London surprise surprise and I got
in London surprise surprise and I got work in investment banking making loads
work in investment banking making loads
work in investment banking making loads of cash I had a 50-foot yacht houses and
of cash I had a 50-foot yacht houses and
of cash I had a 50-foot yacht houses and affluent neighborhoods and I was about
affluent neighborhoods and I was about
affluent neighborhoods and I was about to buy a Porsche if I’m honest I was
to buy a Porsche if I’m honest I was
to buy a Porsche if I’m honest I was absolutely loving it fancy toys partying
absolutely loving it fancy toys partying
absolutely loving it fancy toys partying with my mates what wasn’t there to love
with my mates what wasn’t there to love
with my mates what wasn’t there to love but I had this feeling that I needed to
but I had this feeling that I needed to
but I had this feeling that I needed to do more more for society then simply
do more more for society then simply
do more more for society then simply collect toys I made of mine came to
collect toys I made of mine came to
collect toys I made of mine came to visit had been working for an aid agency
visit had been working for an aid agency
visit had been working for an aid agency in South Sudan we got talking and this
in South Sudan we got talking and this
in South Sudan we got talking and this feeling I guess a combination of duty
feeling I guess a combination of duty
feeling I guess a combination of duty and raw excitement became really strong
and raw excitement became really strong
and raw excitement became really strong so strong in fact that after a few quiet
so strong in fact that after a few quiet
so strong in fact that after a few quiet beverages I managed to convince them to
beverages I managed to convince them to
beverages I managed to convince them to get me an a job number of interviews
get me an a job number of interviews
get me an a job number of interviews written tests reference checks followed
written tests reference checks followed
written tests reference checks followed was a long process they wanted to
was a long process they wanted to
was a long process they wanted to validate why they should give me someone
validate why they should give me someone
validate why they should give me someone with no a
with no a
with no a or Africa experienced a job and I was
or Africa experienced a job and I was
or Africa experienced a job and I was finally offered the role it was pretty
finally offered the role it was pretty
finally offered the role it was pretty exciting times but not without a great
exciting times but not without a great
exciting times but not without a great deal of fear and apprehension I was
deal of fear and apprehension I was
deal of fear and apprehension I was about to change everything but the offer
about to change everything but the offer
about to change everything but the offer forced me to consider what my legacy
forced me to consider what my legacy
forced me to consider what my legacy would look like when I kicked the bucket
would look like when I kicked the bucket
would look like when I kicked the bucket something I had never done before a
month later I’m living in the bush in
month later I’m living in the bush in Sudan to say it was a steep learning
Sudan to say it was a steep learning
Sudan to say it was a steep learning curve would be the understatement of my
curve would be the understatement of my
curve would be the understatement of my life I really was the possum in the
life I really was the possum in the
life I really was the possum in the headlights I was getting death threats
headlights I was getting death threats
headlights I was getting death threats from local warlords malaria kept laying
from local warlords malaria kept laying
from local warlords malaria kept laying me up and beard and I was sharing my
me up and beard and I was sharing my
me up and beard and I was sharing my toilet of all things were for spitting
toilet of all things were for spitting
toilet of all things were for spitting cobra hardly Hawke’s Bay living is it
cobra hardly Hawke’s Bay living is it
cobra hardly Hawke’s Bay living is it but the harsh conditions confirmed why I
but the harsh conditions confirmed why I
but the harsh conditions confirmed why I should be doing this and weirdly I was
should be doing this and weirdly I was
should be doing this and weirdly I was happy but let me tell you a bit more
happy but let me tell you a bit more
happy but let me tell you a bit more about Maryam the little girl from Aleppo
about Maryam the little girl from Aleppo
about Maryam the little girl from Aleppo I mentioned earlier two winters ago
I mentioned earlier two winters ago
I mentioned earlier two winters ago Maryam needed a warm coat as
Maryam needed a warm coat as
Maryam needed a warm coat as temperatures in the north of Syria were
temperatures in the north of Syria were
temperatures in the north of Syria were close to freezing Aleppo City wasn’t yet
close to freezing Aleppo City wasn’t yet
close to freezing Aleppo City wasn’t yet besieged this was still to come
besieged this was still to come
besieged this was still to come and we were conducting our very first
and we were conducting our very first
and we were conducting our very first aid delivery as an organization running
aid delivery as an organization running
aid delivery as an organization running the gauntlet of Castillo Road the only
the gauntlet of Castillo Road the only
the gauntlet of Castillo Road the only Road into opposition-controlled Aleppo
Road into opposition-controlled Aleppo
Road into opposition-controlled Aleppo all vehicles including our tracks were
all vehicles including our tracks were
all vehicles including our tracks were being targeted by government planes and
being targeted by government planes and
being targeted by government planes and ground forces and our drivers the most
ground forces and our drivers the most
ground forces and our drivers the most incredible people that you’ll meet were
incredible people that you’ll meet were
incredible people that you’ll meet were taking massive risks getting our aid
taking massive risks getting our aid
taking massive risks getting our aid supplies our blankets mattresses and
supplies our blankets mattresses and
supplies our blankets mattresses and clothing into the city Miriam’s family
clothing into the city Miriam’s family
clothing into the city Miriam’s family had lost everything having been forced
had lost everything having been forced
had lost everything having been forced to move from home to home as they were
to move from home to home as they were
to move from home to home as they were progressively bombed she was also
progressively bombed she was also
progressively bombed she was also extremely cold as she’d lost all who
extremely cold as she’d lost all who
extremely cold as she’d lost all who went to clothing life wasn’t great but
went to clothing life wasn’t great but
went to clothing life wasn’t great but as we see with our own kids
as we see with our own kids
as we see with our own kids they are resilient and while she was
they are resilient and while she was
they are resilient and while she was still scared she continued to play with
still scared she continued to play with
still scared she continued to play with a few remaining friends our trucks and
a few remaining friends our trucks and
a few remaining friends our trucks and supply is made it into the city and we
supply is made it into the city and we
supply is made it into the city and we started our distribution of winter
started our distribution of winter
started our distribution of winter clothing we gave Miriam of Red winters
clothing we gave Miriam of Red winters
clothing we gave Miriam of Red winters coat much like the ones we provided to
coat much like the ones we provided to
coat much like the ones we provided to these orphans here in this photo little
these orphans here in this photo little
these orphans here in this photo little did we know we would not see Miriam for
did we know we would not see Miriam for
did we know we would not see Miriam for another year after a decade of working
another year after a decade of working
another year after a decade of working in war zones and frustrated that not
in war zones and frustrated that not
in war zones and frustrated that not enough help was reaching families living
enough help was reaching families living
enough help was reaching families living on the world’s frontlines I founded
on the world’s frontlines I founded
on the world’s frontlines I founded relief aid relief aid was set up with a
relief aid relief aid was set up with a
relief aid relief aid was set up with a simple vision to help families and
simple vision to help families and
simple vision to help families and children like on the run here I’m sure
children like on the run here I’m sure
children like on the run here I’m sure you recognize him he’s pretty famous who
you recognize him he’s pretty famous who
you recognize him he’s pretty famous who had no one else to turn to as many of
had no one else to turn to as many of
had no one else to turn to as many of you will have experienced starting
you will have experienced starting
you will have experienced starting something is really difficult and after
something is really difficult and after
something is really difficult and after months and months and months of sending
months and months and months of sending
months and months and months of sending inless emails I realized I had to get
inless emails I realized I had to get
inless emails I realized I had to get out of my comfort zone I had to get out
out of my comfort zone I had to get out
out of my comfort zone I had to get out of my office in Greenland and I had to
of my office in Greenland and I had to
of my office in Greenland and I had to start talking to people face to face
start talking to people face to face
start talking to people face to face hardly rocket science I’m sure you would
hardly rocket science I’m sure you would
hardly rocket science I’m sure you would all would agree this lead to our big
all would agree this lead to our big
all would agree this lead to our big break a chance meeting with local
break a chance meeting with local
break a chance meeting with local Rotarian Margaret Taylor who is also
Rotarian Margaret Taylor who is also
Rotarian Margaret Taylor who is also from Hawke’s Bay she introduced us to UK
from Hawke’s Bay she introduced us to UK
from Hawke’s Bay she introduced us to UK charity shelter box an incredible
charity shelter box an incredible
charity shelter box an incredible organization in their own right
organization in their own right
organization in their own right delivering natural disaster aid and we
delivering natural disaster aid and we
delivering natural disaster aid and we formed a partnership allowing us to
formed a partnership allowing us to
formed a partnership allowing us to start our delivery of aid into northern
start our delivery of aid into northern
start our delivery of aid into northern Syria now the shelter box still mainly
Syria now the shelter box still mainly
Syria now the shelter box still mainly feel absolutely superb it was success at
feel absolutely superb it was success at
feel absolutely superb it was success at last but more importantly it’s allowed
last but more importantly it’s allowed
last but more importantly it’s allowed us to deliver life-saving shelter aid to
us to deliver life-saving shelter aid to
us to deliver life-saving shelter aid to over 68,000 people in water
over 68,000 people in water
over 68,000 people in water Syria today that’s over half the
Syria today that’s over half the
Syria today that’s over half the population of Tauranga and we’re not
population of Tauranga and we’re not
population of Tauranga and we’re not stopping there people also ask me what
stopping there people also ask me what
stopping there people also ask me what can we do when the world’s problems are
can we do when the world’s problems are
can we do when the world’s problems are so big how do we go to work look after
so big how do we go to work look after
so big how do we go to work look after our kids and help others with the short
our kids and help others with the short
our kids and help others with the short answer is it’s difficult but as I’ve
answer is it’s difficult but as I’ve
answer is it’s difficult but as I’ve seen it’s possible and I’ve seen this in
seen it’s possible and I’ve seen this in
seen it’s possible and I’ve seen this in the face of absolute adversity I’m
the face of absolute adversity I’m
the face of absolute adversity I’m humbled and inspired by the people that
humbled and inspired by the people that
humbled and inspired by the people that I get to work with men and woman who
I get to work with men and woman who
I get to work with men and woman who despite facing extreme challenges of
despite facing extreme challenges of
despite facing extreme challenges of their own commit their time and
their own commit their time and
their own commit their time and sometimes their lives to helping others
sometimes their lives to helping others
sometimes their lives to helping others the commitment and dedication of our
the commitment and dedication of our
the commitment and dedication of our Syrian teams standout last year two of
Syrian teams standout last year two of
Syrian teams standout last year two of our staff was shot and killed by a
our staff was shot and killed by a
our staff was shot and killed by a sniper in Aleppo our teams having lost
sniper in Aleppo our teams having lost
sniper in Aleppo our teams having lost homes and relatives could be excused for
homes and relatives could be excused for
homes and relatives could be excused for thinking that done enough they were work
thinking that done enough they were work
thinking that done enough they were work in arguably the most dangerous place on
in arguably the most dangerous place on
in arguably the most dangerous place on earth and the loss of our colleagues
earth and the loss of our colleagues
earth and the loss of our colleagues hurt deeply I felt anger and guilt as
hurt deeply I felt anger and guilt as
hurt deeply I felt anger and guilt as I’d failed to keep them safe we called a
I’d failed to keep them safe we called a
I’d failed to keep them safe we called a meeting to discuss whether or not it had
meeting to discuss whether or not it had
meeting to discuss whether or not it had simply become too dangerous to continue
simply become too dangerous to continue
simply become too dangerous to continue the very worst had happened unanimously
the very worst had happened unanimously
the very worst had happened unanimously they felt their work our work required
they felt their work our work required
they felt their work our work required them in fact obligated them to continue
them in fact obligated them to continue
them in fact obligated them to continue they were not going to give up so on
they were not going to give up so on
they were not going to give up so on days where I think my job is too hard
days where I think my job is too hard
days where I think my job is too hard too hard to convince people such as
too hard to convince people such as
too hard to convince people such as yourselves to care when I have no idea
yourselves to care when I have no idea
yourselves to care when I have no idea how I’ll get the funding required to pay
how I’ll get the funding required to pay
how I’ll get the funding required to pay for our next day delivery when I’m
for our next day delivery when I’m
for our next day delivery when I’m dealing with the feelings of Gil
dealing with the feelings of Gil
dealing with the feelings of Gil associated with losing staff staff
associated with losing staff staff
associated with losing staff staff literally murdered delivering
literally murdered delivering
literally murdered delivering humanitarian assistance I think of our
humanitarian assistance I think of our
humanitarian assistance I think of our teens who despite facing extreme
teens who despite facing extreme
teens who despite facing extreme challenges of their own continued to
challenges of their own continued to
challenges of their own continued to serve their community unfortunately
serve their community unfortunately
serve their community unfortunately things for Miriam and her family were
things for Miriam and her family were
things for Miriam and her family were not going well it’d been a year since
not going well it’d been a year since
not going well it’d been a year since we’ve given her a red winters coat and
we’ve given her a red winters coat and
we’ve given her a red winters coat and the situation and Aleppo had
the situation and Aleppo had
the situation and Aleppo had deteriorated considerably entire
deteriorated considerably entire
deteriorated considerably entire neighborhoods were being destroyed faced
neighborhoods were being destroyed faced
neighborhoods were being destroyed faced with the prospect of injury or worse
with the prospect of injury or worse
with the prospect of injury or worse Miriam and her family decided to leave
Miriam and her family decided to leave
Miriam and her family decided to leave the city by now there were few ways out
the city by now there were few ways out
the city by now there were few ways out and all of them were exceptionally
and all of them were exceptionally
and all of them were exceptionally dangerous they packed up their few
dangerous they packed up their few
dangerous they packed up their few remaining positions just a couple of
remaining positions just a couple of
remaining positions just a couple of suitcases and headed for one of the
suitcases and headed for one of the
suitcases and headed for one of the escape escape routes out of Aleppo we
escape escape routes out of Aleppo we
escape escape routes out of Aleppo we don’t really know what happened to
don’t really know what happened to
don’t really know what happened to Miriam but a few days later we found her
Miriam but a few days later we found her
Miriam but a few days later we found her body lying lifeless and alone not far
body lying lifeless and alone not far
body lying lifeless and alone not far from her home she was still wearing her
from her home she was still wearing her
from her home she was still wearing her red winters coat if I’m honest the
red winters coat if I’m honest the
red winters coat if I’m honest the constant immersion and war zones leads
constant immersion and war zones leads
constant immersion and war zones leads to some pretty dark days and I suffer
to some pretty dark days and I suffer
to some pretty dark days and I suffer from periods of depression I look at
from periods of depression I look at
from periods of depression I look at children such as little armored and I
children such as little armored and I
children such as little armored and I think of my own girls and how difficult
think of my own girls and how difficult
think of my own girls and how difficult it is to see them and pain or suffering
it is to see them and pain or suffering
it is to see them and pain or suffering but despite this challenge I ask myself
but despite this challenge I ask myself
but despite this challenge I ask myself if the situation was reversed if war was
if the situation was reversed if war was
if the situation was reversed if war was right here right now in towering er
right here right now in towering er
right here right now in towering er would I want someone to help my family
so while Miriam did not survive herstory
so while Miriam did not survive herstory drives me to continue our work in the
drives me to continue our work in the
drives me to continue our work in the most dangerous places on earth and when
most dangerous places on earth and when
most dangerous places on earth and when people ask me why do we take the risks
people ask me why do we take the risks
people ask me why do we take the risks that we do my answer is simple its
that we do my answer is simple its
that we do my answer is simple its Miriam so what can you do to help the
Miriam so what can you do to help the
Miriam so what can you do to help the Miriam’s of the world we have the
Miriam’s of the world we have the
Miriam’s of the world we have the opportunity and I feel the obligation to
opportunity and I feel the obligation to
opportunity and I feel the obligation to help children less fortunate than
help children less fortunate than
help children less fortunate than ourselves war is brutal this absolutely
ourselves war is brutal this absolutely
ourselves war is brutal this absolutely no disc disguising this fact but much
no disc disguising this fact but much
no disc disguising this fact but much can be done to help family surrounded by
can be done to help family surrounded by
can be done to help family surrounded by war and conflict earlier this year we
war and conflict earlier this year we
war and conflict earlier this year we received some incredible support from a
received some incredible support from a
received some incredible support from a small group waylaid Aleppo three of them
small group waylaid Aleppo three of them
small group waylaid Aleppo three of them are just down here in the second row who
are just down here in the second row who
are just down here in the second row who also from bio Feeny as it is outraged by
also from bio Feeny as it is outraged by
also from bio Feeny as it is outraged by what they were seeing in Syria they
what they were seeing in Syria they
what they were seeing in Syria they wanted to help they wanted to make a
wanted to help they wanted to make a
wanted to help they wanted to make a difference this small seed of an idea
difference this small seed of an idea
difference this small seed of an idea grew into a huge community if it then
grew into a huge community if it then
grew into a huge community if it then involved the selling of donated avocados
involved the selling of donated avocados
involved the selling of donated avocados an ocean swim from whale island to the
an ocean swim from whale island to the
an ocean swim from whale island to the mainland many of you will know that’s
mainland many of you will know that’s
mainland many of you will know that’s quite some distance and a charity dinner
quite some distance and a charity dinner
quite some distance and a charity dinner just to name a few by the end of the
just to name a few by the end of the
just to name a few by the end of the project the group the community had
project the group the community had
project the group the community had raised $40,000 allowing us to deliver
raised $40,000 allowing us to deliver
raised $40,000 allowing us to deliver life-saving shelter aid to families
life-saving shelter aid to families
life-saving shelter aid to families displaced by the fighting in Syria eight
displaced by the fighting in Syria eight
displaced by the fighting in Syria eight and a half thousand of them I think you
and a half thousand of them I think you
and a half thousand of them I think you agree an incredible effort for a
agree an incredible effort for a
agree an incredible effort for a community that numbers only three
community that numbers only three
community that numbers only three thousand residents
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so while we may feel the problems of the
so while we may feel the problems of the
so while we may feel the problems of the world are too big as I have seen
world are too big as I have seen
world are too big as I have seen together we can make a difference to
together we can make a difference to
together we can make a difference to those less fortunate than ourselves
those less fortunate than ourselves
those less fortunate than ourselves differences such as this thank you
differences such as this thank you
differences such as this thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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