This was a bit of a situational wake up call

[Lotte]

Some of you may already be aware, as I mentioned it in another thread somewhere, that my family sponsor my Mum's Porter from Nepals kids through school.
Basically, she went there in 2010, wanted to help him, so that's what we decided on.
We got a relatively distressed email yesterday, saying that he'd had no work with the treks he's been working with for ages (the woman that runs them is handing over the management to two of the lead porters, and they're giving all their work to their own families, and not any to the other guys). Anyway, what struck me was this: It wasn't, I have no money help me please? It was, this is my situation, I'm stuck, but I don't want to ask for help, so I'm going to finish up by saying that I hope I don't have money issues this year.

These guys work 4 months a year, and earn on average less than 20AUD a day... $200 can last 7 months. Or so I believe.

I'm not really sure what to do, I'm obviously putting a bit more away for him, especially now with work and all that. But even though we pay the money directly to him, it still costs $35 to transfer it over to him, so HE doesn't get stung with the fee from his bank...
I want to do some kind of fundraising effort, maybe put some of the money towards the Bright Future Centre (which is an initiative by another Australian Trekker that mum knows).

Any ideas, or thoughts on situations like this? Comments? Think i just needed to rant, it's rather upsetting, and puts my whole life in perspective (i'm irritated I have to pay HECS back now, hey.. at least i can afford to do that says my subconscious...)