There’s an old saying that people past a certain age tend to mutter to themselves, “Youth is wasted on the young.” That may have been true of past generations, but today’s mutterers have never met the four young women from San Diego who are doing anything but wasting their youth.

Inspired by the movie Invisible Children, a film about northern Uganda’s children, some as young as 8-years-old, who are kidnapped nightly and forced into the roles of soldier and killer in that region’s long-running brutal conflict, Jennifer Slade (age 20), Jessica Marsh, Lauren Hamilton, and Ashley Rose (all age 19), refuse to buy into the old adage. Instead, the four young college students have formed the not-for-profit group, The Gift of Warm (TGOW). “After seeing Invisible Children we all wanted to make a change — some how, some way. We created this (The Gift of Warmth) in hopes that we too would be able to impact the lives of children in need,” says the group’s spokesperson, Jennifer Slade.

The fledgling group, armed with hope and a desire to make a difference, have dedicated themselves to providing African children with essentials. “We’re collecting items of clothing, blankets, and educational supplies. Basically, tools that will help to bring a positive future to these children’s lives,” says Slade. “Our beginning goal is to reach out to Uganda and with time expand to different places where children are in need.”

With the guidance of San Diego Miramar College anthropology professor, Dr. Corrie Ort, The Gift of Warmth is currently researching the many African charities that have already contacted them regarding their project. Slade describes their mission of love by saying, “All of this energy will be going to these children. We ourselves can’t pull them out of their atmosphere, but we can give them warmth from all of us who love them. We can let them see that their futures have a bright light.”

In addition to committing themselves to their cause, all four TGOW members are full-time college students and all hold part-time jobs. It’s a tall order but with the support of friends and family, and their recently established page at MySpace (where there is an already strong contingency of charities networking to reach like minded individuals), the group feels confident they can make their goals a reality.

“It takes true soul, honesty, persistence and determination to change the world. You need a movement! If people were to stand up for what they felt needed changing, together there would be a change.” These are not the lofty ideals of youth, but rather the vision of ones who transend age. As Slade explains it, “(If) one person can make a difference, a group of people can change the world.”

Clearly youth is not wasted on this generation of the young.

Giving it All is a series of feature articles on the generosity of humans, the power they possess, and the gifts they give to the world. To read more in the series, please click the author’s other articles link at right.

You can become a part of The Gift of Warmth by donating items or your time. Please contact them at Thegirftofwarmth@hotmail.com, or their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/132345455

To learn more about the on-going conflict in northern Uganda and additional ways you can help, visit:

The film that inspired The Gift of Warmth, Invisible Children.

Maureen Valdes Marsh is an author, freelance journalist, former newspaper reporter and business owner. Her newest book is 70s Fashion Fiascos, a social commentary about the clothing we wore in the 1970s and why we wore it. Maureen is currently writing a series of articles on everyday people who are giving their all to charity work — helping those who are unable to help themselves — by volunteer work, providing AIDS drugs, caring for AIDS orphans and more. You can visit Maureen’s websites at http://www.70sFashionFiascos.com or http://www.VintageGrace.com