“Better to light a
candle than curse the darkness” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
A Way Out has been nominated by Stockton MP Alex Cunningham
for a Centre for Social Justice award and this quote was on the awards
literature. It linked to something that
was going through my mind this week. For
the past few weeks, our news columns have been filled with the tragic story of Drummer
Lee Rigby; the devastating event, the subsequent grief, the nation’s pain and
individuals’ anger. This was a truly
dark moment for our nation. But one
story jumped out at me over the weekend that lit a candle into all this
darkness. This was the coverage of the Hero
Ride on Saturday in London. 1,300 people
descended from all parts of the UK and Europe to raise funds for soldiers and
families of soldiers, like Lee Rigby, who have been devastated by war and
conflict. 1,300 people cycled for a
cause, motivated by love and solidarity; 1,300 people making a positive
sacrifice for something they believed in and being a light in the darkness.
It reminded me of the beginnings of A Way Out and the
darkness I had witnessed many years ago, when I found children being used by
men as prostitutes on the streets of Stockton. It reminded me of the devastating poverty and
abuse that we uncovered in our communities; of the children’s lives that were
being needlessly lost to suicide, drugs and alcohol. But most of all it reminded me of that moment
when we decided to be a candle in the darkness and the sacrifices myself and
the other founders of A Way Out chose to make to bring back hope to these
devastating situations. There are many
people who have now given their lives, their time, their finances or resources to
make a difference in the lives of women and young people across our Borough and
to me this is a reminder that there is still so much good, hope, love and life in the world. Each of us has the ability to be a candle, to be a light in dark places and
every one of us has the capacity to love and to give and to care. While it is so easy to curse the darkness,
what will actually make it disappear is the light.
Jessie Joe Jacobs (trying to be a light)
Jessie Joe Jacobs (trying to be a light)
If you are interested in helping us bring light, hope and
freedom in Stockton, please see our website
www.awayout.co.uk for all the ways you can get involved.
