(PAUSE MUSIC on right hand side bar before watching video)
I watched this video on another mom's blog and it left me wondering what my family can do to act on the need of others around the world. How do you help other's in need? Does anyone reading have a special way that they help those less fortunate - something simple and doable for people like me that want to make a difference and teach my children to love and help thy neighbour... whether they be in the same city as me or half way across the world.
I'd love suggestions. Video's like this leave me sorta speechless and sickened. We are so fortunate. We are not wealthy but look at the life we live in comparison to so many others. We have food, water, clothing, shelter and so much more. We are so blessed. I want to do more.
5 comments:
Thanks for sharing this!
You asked for suggestions, so here goes... We sponsor 6 kids through Compassion International and have found them to be a trustworthy, reputable organization. Our extra gifts at Christmas (and whenever we can afford to give them) have been used to build a real house (brick)for one of our kids and his family. Another will get to go to college, something she says she wouldn't have been able to do without our support. We're not changing the world by any means, but God has allowed us to be a small part of making life a little easier for six families, and that is a tremendous blessing to me.
My children also like to give a shoe box filled with small gifts they choose and purchase themselves, for "Operation Christmas Child" through Samaritan's Purse (samaritanspurse.org). It's an easy way of helping them get involved and think about something other than themselves and their own wants at Christmas time. Just my two cents. Hope it helps.
that is just crazy and sad and totally leaves me speechless, too...
hey leslie - have you read my blog lately? i too, saw this video and it left me with a sick feeling. i feel so rich & blessed for the life i live....compared to so many other people of the world.
jacques and i celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Canada Day. we don't usually do too much for our special day (as it is a great family day with lots of activities to do) but this year, he gave me the most wonderful gift I've ever received. we began to sponsor a little girl from Guatemala through World Vision - another reputable organization.(check out both my adoption blog & be grateful 4 life blog)
Noah is aware that we began doing this, has looked at her photo alot and asked alot of questions. he was perturbed because he felt we should have sponsored a little boy!!! So i told him that if he wants to use some of his allowance (and we will pay the rest) to sponsor a boy - he can (although he hasn't decided yet!)
So this is definitely one way you could help - it's only $35 per month. K&C can get involved by choosing the child they sponsor - you can search the database by country, male or female, age, birth date, etc. Website is: www.worldvision.ca.
Another cool part is that you can communicate with the child and can even go to visit the child in their country (obviously with a little bit of planning). Claudia (our sponsor child is from Guatemala) so when i take my trip in the spring of 2009, I am going to make EVERY effort to meet her and her family!! How cool is that!
Just another idea sent your way...
Hi Leslie,
My dh and I pay the schooling fees for a young girl in Kammengo, Uganda. A friend of mine and former teacher has set up a org to help improve the lives of the people, especially the children, in and around the village. So far an aids awareness and screening clinic has been set up,a support group for those who have been diagnosed and living with HIV/ AIDs, a community center has been build and a small library has been created as up until last year the children had never seen a picture before. Textbooks purchsed (as they had none)and desks have been built for a near school named St. Henry's. A chicken coop built and filled with chicks and piglets have been purchased. Sponsoring a child to pay for school fees are 50-60 dollars per year for elementary and $120 per semester for high school. Everything donated goes directly to the kids and the village, many of the children have been orphaned by Aids and are living with village grandmothers.
Since it's a small investment directly into the village we see the effect immeadiately.
My DH and I plan to pay the school fees for our sponsored child all the way throught HS.
Megan
The small things have made a world of difference
Les, we don't go as far as to sponser a child. We give to the salvation army and the shut ins at our church at christmas. And our boys get a tin can every year in their stocking. During the year they fill it with various amounts of change. Pennies and nickles mostly ( but it's a start) and then come November, they decide what they want to do with it. it is for someone who needs their help, who has less than them.
Last year a man came to our church looking for formula for his baby, he didn't have any money and welfare wouldn't give him any because he was a young man who was waiting for his unemployment to arrive. He also had another small daughter about one. The mother had left. Dalton decided that he would give to the pastor. He rolled it up and bought the gentleman a case of formula with it. It was almost 30.00.
this year I think that both the kids will be donating to the fireman Dalton informs me. ( Gee I wonder why)
We do what we can too but, I figure, we have to teach our kids those values first and foremost so that it starts to affect the world positively.
The kindness that other showed us this past few months, we can never repay but you know what we are certainly going to continue to do our part.
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