I am not sure how to write this, and how to answer all of your questions in a way that is not going to open a can full of worms. But I need to write this – I need to express what I am feeling. I feel like a Fraud and I Dont Like It. You see I have agreed to be a World Vision Ambassador, yet I feel like that I am not able to do much.
I Feel Like A Fraud
Yes I have supported World Vision with 40 Hour Famine, but that was many years ago…I was in high school and I am so not telling you how many years ago that was! But what have I done for the benefit of helping to do something good since then?
Oh yes we did buy a Goat for our boys and a Duck for Davids parents at Christmas time. Yet I have a burning desire within. Not sure what that is about or how I can make a difference. I am only one person, but I still believe that if everyone did a little bit to help out then the world will be a better place.
Since I Returned From Melbourne
I would like to clear something up – I am not being sponsored by World Vision via New Life on the Road. I want to be able to sponsor World Vision. I am not sure how or in what way – but I would love to say that our blog sponsors a child.
Which Leads Me To This Crazy Question….
What Can You Do To Help?
Recently Eden from EdenLand took 10 days out of her life to visit Africa. She went to places where no one is talking about. She saw things that will impact her life today, tomorrow, next week, next year and forever more.
Why send a blogger to Africa? It might be one of the questions you have! Well that it is so easy to answer…bloggers rock!
We have a huge influence to do good. We talk with other bloggers, we use Social Media and we connect with other bloggers. We want to make a difference, and it might be only one person starting out but soon many others get on board.
The Good:-
Since Eden started on her journey there have been more sponsorships for children that are in need.
More donations are coming in…somthing that was not thought about by bloggers until it was talked about!
Some more online exposure that is spreading the word about World Vision.
A bit of traditional media exposure (so not enough but its a start)
A Few Ideas Running Through My Head
I feel like I am not worthy to be a “World Vision Ambassador”. Even after meeting the teams behind the scene – Supporter Insights and Planning manager, Social Media community Manager, Emergency co-ordinator, Program Manager for fragile Contexts, Social Media Manager and even Public Relations Team Leader – I still felt like I was swimming against the current without any life jackets available.
Did you know that there are African Women who have to leave their homes in search of Food?
They have to walk for miles.
Without a car, without a phone (gee they probably don’t even know what technology is out there!), without shoes, without anything that will help them. They are alone and in search of something that is so basic.
Then they have to keep on walking – looking and searching for something that we can easily drive down the road to and buy from a shelf.
While they are walking they (sometimes) have to decide who they can carry, and who they have to leave behind.
Oh. My. Gosh.
Imagine that – leaving your child/baby/babies behind because you do not have the energy to carry them. Or because you have no other option. Because they have to go by the basic needs of humanity…to live and stay alive.
Can you imagine the scars they have to live with?
I still have trouble with that scene. And I don’t tell you lightly about the situations that are going on. I tell you so that you can see what needs to be done. I tell you to see if you think that with one person helping, another person will help, and then another and then another.
I tell you because I feel deeply that something, anything, everything needs to be done.
Here are A Few Ideas That Could Help:-
- Make a one-time Donation
- Sponsor a Child
- Be part of the 40 Hour Famine and raise money/awareness that way
- Blog about World Vision for the good
- Read about World Vision online from other bloggers and leave your thoughts (spread the news far and wide!)
- Share this blog post – let it get as much attention as possible so that at least one more child is sponsored
Would You Like To Join In?
Not sure how to go about this – or how to do it so that its legally allowed – but I would love to Sponsor a Child. From New Life on the Road – sponsoring a child where others can read about the benefits of providing a different lifestyle for at least one child.
Or even doing 40 Hour Famine this year – where you can help via a Donation so that again World Vision can continue on with their work.
Or something – Give me an idea here and together we can make a difference.
I Feel Like A Fraud And I Dont Like It.
A fraud because we have everything that we need to stay alive – food, water, shelter, clothes.
And then we have even more.
Yet those gorgeous people in Africa only exist if they receive help. Can you imagine this happening in Australia and no-one talking about it? Not a chance.
Yet this is happening and hardly any one is talking about it.
Why? Because its being brushed under the carpet so that no-one is aware.
Lets change that.
PLEASE let me know…..
What Do You Want To Do To Help?
Cheers
Lisa
New Life on the Road
I have stuff about all this in my head and not sure how to get it out. I think that this and other issues and causes are a symptom of a much, much greater problem with our world. It is that problem that worries me. Why does this happen? All of it? How can we stop it? I do my little bit where I can, but I keep wanting to reach beyond that, to the big picture and find the WHY? And then put a stop to it…
Dorothy @ Singular Insanity recently posted..Where I issue a writing challenge
Hi Dorothy,
I am so glad to know that I am not the only one with stuff going around and around! I keep thinking about “What the Heck can I do to help” After all there are so many in need….but if we all take a small step to help out then bigger and better things can be done!
The “why” I will never ever get!
Cheers
Lisa
I’m not sure we can truly help the problem until the corrupt government has been sorted out. Africa is a country rich in resources, fertile soil, beautiful rainforests but not much opportunity for the citizens. You don’t find the officials starving, they are all living a wonderful life full of riches and plenty of food. I have heard so many stories about what happens to the aid which is given by other countries it really makes my blood boil to think that these greedy people can watch their country folk starve to death and live in poverty and fear. You would hope that sponsoring a child through world vision will change that little persons life forever so it would be worth it.
Jackie Stenhouse recently posted..Heart Cookie Cutters
Hi Jackie,
So very true that the officials would not be starving!
Sponsoring a child through world vision is so worth it….and something that everyone can easily do!
There are so many people in need, if we all made a little donation then the difference would so be worth it. Looking forward to working with world vision so that our blog can make a difference!
Cheers
Lisa
Having grown up in Pakistan and having lived as an adult in Fiji, I struggle with the whole poor/rich divide a lot. I think we need to make it known as much as possible, talk about it, do whatever we can to raise awareness, funds and sponsorship but not get paralysed by the guilt of having the life we have. We are so privileged here in Australia – lets put that privilege and our knowledge of internet, fundraising, communication, finances to good use. Let’s not let our kids grow up with tunnel vision and thinking that everyone lives like we do, let’s educate them, take them on trips where they can serve other people and help poor communitities. It doesn’t even have to be abroad, it could be volunteering with the Salvos. Let’s get them to do garage sales to fundraise. Let’s make sure they know that as people who live in a blessed democracy, we can and should be fighting for others to have human rights or have their basic needs met. I think you’re doing a great job of raising awareness Lisa. Don’t get paralysed by guilt.
Little Gumnut recently posted..Loving
That is such a great idea – putting our awareness out there so that we can make a difference because we are so very lucky to have so much here in Australia. I like the idea of educating people (and our own children) so that others can benefit.
Thanking you for the great support – making a difference does start with one person, and then becomes a ripple effect on the whole world.
Cheers
Lisa
I think you sound like a fabulous Ambassador Lisa and your passion is undeniable. It was lovely to meet you, even if it was ever so briefly on the way to the plane. It is a small world, smaller then people realise.
Kym – Mumma’s Mini Mes recently posted..Winners….
Thanking you Kym for your very kind words – sure is a small world 🙂
Cheers
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I was struggling with my own issues related to travel blogging. I came up with an idea for how we structure our giving when we travel (also to World Vision). Not sure if anyone else will take it up but thought it was worth posting about.
Danielle
Danielle recently posted..Travel Tithing – Giving for good every time you travel.