Friday, April 27, 2007
Wanting to Help
okay I don't know how many of you watch American Idol but it is one of my addictions. I love that show. Currently my fav is Jordin Sparks, but I also really like Melinda Doolittle too. But that is not what I want to talk about right now. I really loved the show on Wednesday and haven't been able to stop thinking about all of the children in the world who are going without. I spent most of the show a little teary and grateful that I have healthy children and that I myself am healthy and will be here for my children. I have been trying to think of ways to do something to be of more help. I know that paying my tithing and fast offerings are a help and that that money goes to many good causes, but I feel like doing more. I think that I'm going to do some research on the web and try to figure out something that I can do. If any of you have any ideas or anything please let me know. One of the things that we are looking in to doing is foster care. I know that I can be of help to children right here and it's not like I'm not already taking care of kids. This way I will know that at least one child will be in a better place than they were before. I'll let you all know how this development turns out and keep you updated. I will try to be a bit better at keeping up on blogging more regular. It has been hard lately with unpacking and everything else, but I almost have my house all organized. Yahoo!
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2 comments:
good to see you doing your blog again. MOM
Hi Shirley,
I do watch American Idol + I'm glad that episode(s) touched you. From living in Ethiopia + Kenya, I can attest to a lot of what the show documented. Quite a few of the places they visited were either in Nairobi, where we lived, or just 15 minutes outside. In particular, the issue they raised on Malaria was very accurate: Malaria kills an estimated ONE MILLION people every year - mostly pregnant women and children under five. This means, a child dies every 30 seconds.
My husband, Chris, could give you a lot of information on how to help with Malaria. It's easily prevented if women + children sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net. My husband created the SWAT Campaign to fight malaria at his previous organization. Your children may enjoy going through this - it's a game to educate kids in particular about malaria and help them then, in turn, teach others about malaria + what they can do to help fight it:
http://www.swatmalaria.org/home/index.asp
www.rollbackmalaria.org is the global goverence head for making Malaria policies on a country + global level. Chris was the global NGO (non-governmental organization or a non-profit) representative.
There is also a brilliant micro-loan system based out of San Fransisco. You can pick people from particular countries who are trying to set up a small business + lend them a small amount. You then have an account online which gives you direct communication TO the person you helped lend money to. It can even be as little as $20. I think this is an absolutely wonderful way for, as family, to see results on how they can help others who are less fortunate. Many of the people who need a little bit of money just may want to set up a kiosk to sell items such as baskets, charcoal, shoes, pottery, etc. They usually need peanuts just to make ends meet + make a SIGNIFICANT difference in their lives. This program has had incredible success + has been featured in the NY Times as well as a recent PBS program. I think it would be so powerful to have your children 'track' how your family has had a DIRECT impact on another family. You can choose individuals from several different countries over several different continents. You can read a bio on them + choose which individual to help.
kiva.org
Shirley, if you're interested in anything else, please just email me and let me know - especially if you're considering helping people who are overseas. Both my husband and myself have direct contacts/links with organizations that you can assist with.
Besides even just taking in other children as foster care, you can make a direct impact on peoples' lives in other ways here at home, too. What if your family volunteered at a soup-kitchen? Donated goods to Good Will? Worked for a Food Bank? Volunteered at local agencies? I think it's commendable to want to take in children, but you would really want to weigh all the pros + cons. You would be bringing in someone who would have an profound impact on your own children + family. Sometimes (though I don't know about Canada), state agencies do NOT disclose all the court-mandated information to foster families (I can tell you a story about this from very personal experience with my own family). Be very cautious about this....as it could most certainly turn your lives up-side-down - or I imagine it could be amazing.
Anyway - I just wanted you to know about some of the things I know about and which are near + dear to our hearts since we have literally seen this stuff with our own eyes....
Much love,
Becky.
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