Want to Do Something Big? Be a Superhero with Shot@Life

Guess what? Today, you can be a superhero. You can save a life. Get your superhero cape and let’s get started.

I would like to introduce you to Tanga. Tanga is currently four years old and lives in a developing country with her mom and dad. She has only 2 brothers because the other 3 of her siblings passed away at a young age.

Meet Tanga.

Let me interrupt my story here for a moment to tell you a fact. In 2010, 7.6 million kids worldwide younger than 5 died who didn’t have to- the equivalent of the combined populations of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Can you imagine waking up and the entire population of 2 states is gone?

Anyway, back to my story. Tanga’s father is a fisherman and each time he leaves for work, she wants to go along. “Not until you are older” he says. Until that time comes, Tanga spends her time cooking with her mother and helping her process other’s laundry to help make a little bit of extra money.

Just like her siblings who have passed away, Tanga lives in a vulnerable situation, lucky to live day to day. Because of their living situation and lack of healthcare her three siblings have died from simple diseases that could have been prevented with vaccinations. Tanga’s mother did not even cry when her third child passed. It was almost as if it was expected.

This story about Tanga is a combination of my own experiences in Ghana, Africa as well as experiences of others from developing countries. For example, I was on a tour of a hospital when a newborn died. No one cried, except me. Stories like this are all too common in developing countries but there is good news. There is something that you the “superhero” can do about it.

Shot @ Life is an organization that is working to make a difference in the ending to Tanga’s story. Through their organization a mere $20 dollars will vaccinate a child and give them their shot at life. This $20 will give a small child like Tanga a chance to go fishing with her dad. Only $20 will give a kid a chance at being a kid. If you would like to donate, click here.

Hold on for a minute superhero, there is more that you can do. During the month of August there is a fundraiser that will directly benefit Shot @ Life. All you have to do is comment on a blog and you will save a child. During August there will be thirty posts done by 30 bloggers, one each day. For each comment, $20 is donated to Shot @ Life. Even if there are only 30 comments per post, that is 900 lives saved. With your help, it can be a lot more. Please watch the video below and spread the word.

Ready superhero? Get set. Go!