Julie Hellon is not the first person I’ve met to think her teenagers live a very privileged life here in the south of France and she’s always known that plenty of kids are not as fortunate, but she is the first person that I’ve met in a long time who was prepared to do something about it.

The mum of two heard about a project being run in Kenya and was moved to find out more, so when she was invited to go and see the work for herself she jumped at the chance.

She asked the director what she could do to help. Did she have any skills or abilities that would genuinely help? The answer that came back was – be a friend. It’s a sentiment that has stayed with her and yet is so simple when you think about it.

That two-week visit changed Julie’s life forever and in that time she found what she calls her ‘life mission.’ And the skills that she needed for that she had already learnt as a mum, as a friend, a colleague and just as a good person.

When I try to gauge what would make a good donation Julie’s response is: ‘Every little bit literally makes a difference; even €5 will do something in Kenya. It’s such a tiny amount on the Cote d’Azur, what is that? Two coffees, one beer?’

And if your finances are feeling stretched in this time of recession, go online to the Global Rich List and see where you feature. You might be surprised.

Julie explains: ‘People who have donated like the fact that I can give follow-up news. That makes a difference. From showing them photos to saying well that €50 you gave bought three pairs of shoes, and that meant those three boys were able to go to school.’

It’s as simple as that.

Last month Julie (along with some of her local Bar sur Loup & Tourrette Sur Loup friends) raised €300 doing a car boot sale to put towards her trip at the end of November.

And Julie is hoping that those who’d like to help but aren’t sure how, could throw-in an extra packet of Doliprane, for example, when they are at the pharmacy and give it to her, as that’s a really practical thing she can take and it will lower a sick child’s fever.

I’m curious can people donate clothes or shoes?

‘One of the important things is that we buy locally to support the local trade, so as much as possible we prefer to buy clothes and t-shirts in Kenya itself to keep those businesses going and those people employed,’ she explains.

She smiles and continues: ‘Saying that though, the boys all love football shirts (just like all the boys I know here!) so if you have any old ones that your children have grown out of, I would love to take them with me, and it’s something fun.’

The Isaiah Trust supports street boys, some are as young as seven and you see them sifting through the waste dumps looking for things to sell. We’ve all seen these images in films. Often these kids then buy glue from the proceeds as it not only takes away the hunger, but also the pain and that can too easily becomes a desperate spiral.

The boys who make it into the orphanage are sent to school once they have learnt to live in a family, to do chores and adapted to the new routine - that’s all part of their rehabilitation.

After they finish school the Trust repatriates the boys back to their villages if it is safe for them to return, so they can work and give something back. It’s all part of a system to hand up and not hand out so it is vital the young boys learn how to support themselves.

One of the few girls that Julie has worked with is called Ruth and she is 14. She has five siblings who she tends to as her mum is dead and her dad is a night watchman, which leaves all the girls very vulnerable at night as rape is sadly all too common.

She is an articulate and clever girl who desperately wants to be a lawyer. The Trust will fund her through boarding school (not our image of that) and also try to care for her younger siblings whilst she is away. Ruth is determined so Julie thinks it will happen.

She tells me another story about a boy who when asked what he’d like asks for kerosene for his lamp, so he can do his homework even when it’s dark. It makes you think doesn’t it?

We talk about accidents of latitude, and not choosing where you’re born and this brings Julie on to telling me the Starfish Story.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a young man picking up small objects, and throwing them into the sea. He came closer and called out, “Good morning! May I ask what you are doing?”
The young man replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“Why?” asked the wise man.
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
On hearing this, the wise man said, “But, young man, do you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”
And it’s for this same reason that Julie wants to return to Kenya at least twice a year to help the Trust and fulfil her mission. She has a belief that no matter what, anyone can help, whether in a financial or a practical way. It might be just committing to writing a monthly letter to one of the kids. Anyone who would like to find out more or play a role in helping please contact her by emailing julie.hellon@yahoo.com

And to learn more about the Trust itself you can visit www.isaiahtrust.org