Across the country, religious leaders had one message as they presided over New Year's prayers; they urged the public to offer opportunities to vulnerable members of society to improve their quality of life. This was the message believers who thronged various places of worship walked home with as we embark on a new year 2016. And it is the same message that worshipers across the world, were told.

Love and compassion should define humanity.  But unfortunately over the last year, it was not the case. A lot is going in the world. People are killing each other because of hatred. Others have been displaced from their homes and forced into exile because of hatred. Most of the affected people in these situations are the vulnerable.

Like the Pope said in his New Year message, "Let’s be worried and alarmed by what is currently happening in the world. We should not remain indifferent in the face of people dying of hunger, people being killed, prisoners, refugees, patients, orphans and more people facing serious sorrow

Collectively, we can make a difference in the lives of those who are not fortunate enough to live normal lives in society-like the street children, the physically handicapped and those who have been displaced by war like in Burundi and in other parts of the world like Syria.

As individuals we can touch the lives of the vulnerable people in society within our means. Every community has vulnerable people. So as an individual make it a resolution to touch the life of a vulnerable person in 2016. If each individual does this, the world will be a better place by the end of 2016.