When Jess Gaskell (pictured right) sent invites for her 21st "pyjama breakfast', presents were not on the agenda.
Instead guests were asked to give monetary donations to the establishment of an orphanage funded by African Enterprise.
Together with another friend from Engadine Anglican Church, who also chose to "donate' her 21st birthday presents, Jess raised over $10,000 of the $20,000 required for the project, which African Enterprise hopes to finish by the end of the year.
"My celebration was alcohol-free. I encouraged binge-giving not the usual binge-drinking," says Jess.
It was the passion of 19-year-old Sally Crook (pictured left), from Heathcote Anglican, for Malawi's one million-plus orphans that led Jess to forgo her birthday presents.
"When Sally returned from Malawi she inspired so many of us to get involved to raise money for the physical and spiritual care of these destitute children," she says.
"The least I could do was to forgo presents at my 21st and offer the money we raised to those in massive need of food and shelter and the hope that God's word brings."
Sally says she returned from her trip changed by the children she saw in Malawi, who live on the streets without food, education or healthcare.
"Every year 70,000 new orphans end up on the lonely streets in Malawi mainly because of the AIDS epidemic," Sally says. "This is a frightening statistic for us living in a nation like Australia which has so many support services."
Jess doesn't regret the decision to give up what for many is the thrill of unwrapping gifts on such a landmark birthday.
"I was delighted with the response of the 160 people who attended my party, it was an awesome way to celebrate," she said.
"People I don't really even know have been coming up to me giving me money for the kids. Just last Sunday a man came up to me at church and put $100 into my hand and said to "give it to the orphanage'."
A fundraising event to gather the remaining $3000 needed for the orphanage will be held at Engadine Anglican on June 14.
Photo: Mark Kennedy
