A plea for aid for Haiti
I wish that it was possible for everyone in the developed world to experience something of life in the developing world. I know it's NOT possible; we don't all have that kind of money, and that even in the "developed" world there is still crushing poverty. I know it's not possible, because in some cases, monetary donations may be one of the most necessary forms of aid. I know it's not possible, because it is presumptious to assume that in all cases we would be welcomed into a community.
But still.
I could write about tragedies in these poverty-stricken places. Maybe I should be writing about those things; guilt, shame, pity, they can sometimes move people to donate to the less fortunate when other tactics fail. But I don't think that helps much in fostering a true sense of compassion, empathy, love, for people. We see photos, video, commercials of nameless people crying, or despondently staring into the distance, or sitting infront of ruined or ramshackle housing, or starving children, sickly elderly. These things are true. Heartbreakingly true. But I think that when ALL we see is that, we start to see the affected peoples as more of archetypes, icons of poverty, instead of people, individuals.
I don't want people to forget about how much these people are suffering, obviously, but I want us to also imagine how these peoples' lives could be transformed with a little bit of help. I think we need to imagine how beautifully the children might smile if they are able to eat well. How proud and healthy the elderly might look if they get medical attention for their ailments. How a family might gain hope for the future if they can go to sleep at night with adequate shelter. I want us to genuinely CARE about and feel connected to these people so that when the news, and newspapersm and media turn their attention to other things (football), we do not also turn our complete attention to other things.
Here's a chance and a challenge to keep remembering, and to improve the life or lives of people who desperately need it:
wendelah1 is doing a grant challenge for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. You can read about the idea behind it HERE, and you can keep an eye on her journal for any updates. The short version, though, is that she has generously set aside a sum of $1000 so that when people donate to a legitimate charity or organization currently on the ground in Haiti, helping with relief or rebuilding efforts, she'll match your donation. I've donated, and I got my dad to donate. Please, please, please, if you are capable of donating ANYTHING, no matter how little, I ask that you do so. Participating in wendelah1 's grant challenge will make your donation go twice as far. The grant challenge is on until the end of this month.
If you're still reading this and have time to read a bit more, I have the absolute most amazing and inspiring story about how the tiniest donation made the BIGGEST difference to one person, who went on to make a difference to many. There is a young man in Kenya named Elijah. As a child, he was poor, and he was an orphan. Then one day, someone loaned him five dollars. He bought a bag of sugar with it and sold it by the spoonful, to make back more than the initial five dollars. He bought several more bags of sugar with the money, sold it by the spoonful, and made back even more. Continuing to buy and sell like this, he eventually made enough to pay his way through university.
And then he opened a children's home, for orphans.
Obviously, this was made possible by the willpower and determination and business savvy of Elijah, and to not mention that would do him a great disservice. But it was also made possible by a donation of five dollars when it was greatly needed.
(In case you think that the story about Elijah sounds like an urban legend, it's not; I met him).
But still.
I could write about tragedies in these poverty-stricken places. Maybe I should be writing about those things; guilt, shame, pity, they can sometimes move people to donate to the less fortunate when other tactics fail. But I don't think that helps much in fostering a true sense of compassion, empathy, love, for people. We see photos, video, commercials of nameless people crying, or despondently staring into the distance, or sitting infront of ruined or ramshackle housing, or starving children, sickly elderly. These things are true. Heartbreakingly true. But I think that when ALL we see is that, we start to see the affected peoples as more of archetypes, icons of poverty, instead of people, individuals.
I don't want people to forget about how much these people are suffering, obviously, but I want us to also imagine how these peoples' lives could be transformed with a little bit of help. I think we need to imagine how beautifully the children might smile if they are able to eat well. How proud and healthy the elderly might look if they get medical attention for their ailments. How a family might gain hope for the future if they can go to sleep at night with adequate shelter. I want us to genuinely CARE about and feel connected to these people so that when the news, and newspapersm and media turn their attention to other things (football), we do not also turn our complete attention to other things.
Here's a chance and a challenge to keep remembering, and to improve the life or lives of people who desperately need it:
wendelah1 is doing a grant challenge for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. You can read about the idea behind it HERE, and you can keep an eye on her journal for any updates. The short version, though, is that she has generously set aside a sum of $1000 so that when people donate to a legitimate charity or organization currently on the ground in Haiti, helping with relief or rebuilding efforts, she'll match your donation. I've donated, and I got my dad to donate. Please, please, please, if you are capable of donating ANYTHING, no matter how little, I ask that you do so. Participating in wendelah1 's grant challenge will make your donation go twice as far. The grant challenge is on until the end of this month.
If you're still reading this and have time to read a bit more, I have the absolute most amazing and inspiring story about how the tiniest donation made the BIGGEST difference to one person, who went on to make a difference to many. There is a young man in Kenya named Elijah. As a child, he was poor, and he was an orphan. Then one day, someone loaned him five dollars. He bought a bag of sugar with it and sold it by the spoonful, to make back more than the initial five dollars. He bought several more bags of sugar with the money, sold it by the spoonful, and made back even more. Continuing to buy and sell like this, he eventually made enough to pay his way through university.
And then he opened a children's home, for orphans.
Obviously, this was made possible by the willpower and determination and business savvy of Elijah, and to not mention that would do him a great disservice. But it was also made possible by a donation of five dollars when it was greatly needed.
(In case you think that the story about Elijah sounds like an urban legend, it's not; I met him).