He is an orphan of this world - one of the forgotten. His ship is being moved today, to a part of the harbour where it will disintegrate in rust. He has no say in the matter. This is the thing about being forgotten. Your voice is swallowed by the wind.

For the people in the harbour, it is possibly a matter of being out of sight, out of mind. The ship that has caused headaches in the Durban harbour for months, has a crew consisting of a single Indian man. On board there is no food, water, bathroom facilities or electricity. It is often so for the forgotten...Only last week Chris met with the Who’s Who of the harbour. These people enthusiastically promised wonderful things, but on Chris’ return to plead the man’s case, he walks into a wall of empty niceties. Suddenly all are too busy to answer his calls and his e-mails disappear into the ether net. It is often so for the forgotten. Those with power to effect change have more important things to do.

Now and then the ship’s agent arrives with a few scraps of food. Typically it is not enough and there is no indication of how long the scraps should last or when the ‘kind’ owner will send more alms. Chris is also there when the agent appears for her latest visit. She declares, proudly, that the owner made available R800 for food. She unpacks the food on the quay. Chris estimates that it is worth, at most, about R300 and that her ‘commission’ must be about R500. It is often so with the forgotten - that they are swindled out of the little that they do have.

There is no gangway between the ship and quay, only a doubtful rope that will allow you - if you want to risk your life - to move from ship to quay. Her good deed done, the agent leaves and Chris helps to tie the small quantity of food to a rope, allowing the seaman to hoist the food on board the ship. It has been several months and it will last several more. Yet, daily there is no one to continue the fight. The forgotten will be forgotten more each day. That is why Chris is there - to remind all and to give a voice to the seaman. He will provide food and water when the alms stop coming and the agent fails to arrive. He will give the man a chance to phone home. Chris will do this every day, until that day when his help is no longer needed. 

This is what we, at the CSO, do. We are - where possible - the voices of the forgotten. But, more than that, we are also there to remind the forgotten that the Word is true and so is God who sees everyone. He will never forget. Your donation will help us continue to help the forgotten that cross our paths and care for them in the Name above all names.

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