CBC Champions of Change Award

I am realizing just now that I neglected to mention on my blog about an extraordinary event that happened in my life recently. I was still in South Africa, sitting on my bed when I had an email from a friend of mine back home. He wrote to tell me about the humanitarian award hosted by CBC called Champions of Change. Being so far away from Canada I had not heard about it but was very excited when my friend nominated me. As it turns out a whole lot more of you nominated me also because for most of the competition I had the most nominations of everyone in Canada!! A very nice gesture in a contest which searches for Canada's top volunteers.

http://www.cbc.ca/change/index.html

CBC was very good to me, I had a local television interview with Elizabeth Chiu, a radio interview with CBC Mainstreet and then a big one, a National interview with Mark Kelley who's show Connect With Mark Kelley is broadcast all across Canada. Mark is delightful and if you didn't know that he was an award winning journalist you would just assume that he was one of your fabulous neighbours next door, he is very down to Earth and fits right in here in Halifax.

Here is a link to:

My interview with Mark Kelley  http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Champions%20of%20Change/ID=1585258567

My radio interview on CBC Mainstreet  http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningns/2010/08/catherine-robar-leading-volunteer.html

The competition was very tight and in the end there were more than 2000 nominations and 1300 people in the running. Of all of those people I was chosen in the top 50. This award is a big deal, the top ten all receive a $10,000 donation to their charities and if you are chosen in the top two positions (by public vote) you receive an additional $15,000 for a grand total of $25,000 for the top two people, one international one domestic. Being that I had the most nominations across Canada, had a tons of media exposure and apparently had someone on the inside rooting for me to win I felt a lot of hope that I would make it at least to the top 10, or maybe to the finish line. Sadly however yesterday I learned that I was not advanced past the top 50.



My room mates have been very supportive, they
have spoiled me with love since they
heard the bad news.



A lot of people have sent me notes to say how sorry they are, some simply tell me that they love me, an incredibly warm and heart felt gesture. Others try to give me the "chin up" talk. I have been nominated for so many awards and in each of them I always seem to do well but just shy of winning an actual cash prize. I have never been interested in the glory of these awards, for me it is all about the donation and the media attention. People tell me that it is an honour just to be nominated but I have to say, in my case it is not enough. Running The Themba Development Project, or any charity, takes 100% commitment, I have given up my life, my time, my blood sweat and tears and part of my future to ensure that the people of South Africa have a better life. Charities need more than passion and dedication however, they need money. I had so much hope that I would at least win $10,000, but now my hope is lost. This award would have been a game changer but now I am left wondering how I will make ends meet. Perhaps all of my supporters will rally together and donate $10 so that together we can raise the $10,000.



For when things are worth celebrating again. Love Jill