Introducing Karen and Ruaraidh and their upcoming wedding:   The reason we have chosen Ikhaya Likababa is a quite simple. We have everything we need in life and both felt very strongly that we didn't want any gifts. However, we knew that people would still buy us things so we thought we would direct the money to a worthwhile cause. We are both just ordinary people, but our hearts break when we see need and suffering. It is very overwhelming when you think of the scale of the problems out there but I have always felt that you have to start somewhere. As the saying goes 'it's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness'. That's something I try to live by. Originally we were asking for donations to the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) and SOS Childrens Villages. RNLI because I was in the merchant navy for 15 years (I am now a senior lecturer at a nautical college) and Ruaraidh is still at sea. However, we decided to change it to the children only. From the beginning I wanted somewhere in South Africa as I grew up there from the age of 9 till 23. We come for holidays quite a lot as family and friends are still there and Ruaraidh agreed that it would be a link to my past as well as being part of our future. We were actually in Zululand on holiday over the new year! I wanted to donate to an SOS village in Kwazulu Natal as I had lived in Durban, but I couldn't find one, so I started surfing the web. When I read about Ikhaya it just clicked into place. So a long story, but a simple story :0). We are not religious people, but we are definitely spiritual so this has no connection to any church (we don't attend) or other organisation. We're just trying to help make a difference. Two of the guests at our wedding (Gemma and Shaun) have actually raised quite a bit of money (through raffles, quiz nights etc) to actually build an orphanage in Kenya, and they are only in their early twenties. They have only recently returned and are now raising money for equipment. We had thought about donating the money to them, but I had already fallen for the idea of Ikhaya. If nothing else, the concept will not be alien to many of the guests! Our wedding is a little unusual - we are having a 'handfasting' wedding, which is a ceremony that goes back a long, long way. It honours life and nature and love and our hands are tied together with ribbons of different colours - each one signifying something different eg love, respect, loyalty etc.. Other than that it will be a normal weddng with a big party afterwards! We are having it at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow as Ruaraidh is an island boy from an island called South Uist in the outer hebrides. Most of his family are native gaelic speakers so it will be great fun! If you wish to donate online, you can do so by clicking here |
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A Wedding Couple with BIG hearts for Ikhayaposted Sep 8, 2011 4:17 PM by iKhaya Likababa Office [ updated Sep 8, 2011 4:19 PM ] |