Cafe staff support Third World child

Staff at a Woy Woy cafe are donating some of their tips to support a child in the Third World.

Gabrielle Bowles, manager of Gnostic Mana Cafe, said that staff used to spend part of their tips on lotto but discovered that with the left over money they could support a child in need.

She said the idea originally came from her parents, who had at one stage sponsored four children.

Gabrielle also sponsored a child herself.

The Cafe chose to sponsor Bangladesh-born Meraz Uddin.

Meraz is a 10-year-old boy whose father is a day labourer and does not have regular work.

Gabrielle said the money would help Meraz and his family gain self-reliance.

Gnostic Cafe has been sponsoring Meraz for a year, but in the last eight months, other sections of Gnostic group have joined the sponsorship program.

The Gnostic Forrest sponsors the Banos family from Peru while the weekly meditation group sponsors Gita, an eight-year-old girl from Indonesia.

Gabrielle said she encouraged local businesses to help the local and global community.

"It's one thing to provide a service that you're paid to do, but another to do something you're not paid to do.

"I think there is true dignity in that," she said.

Lyle Stone, August 31