For our last week of blog training we were encouraged to write something we really care about. Not just to tell another story, but to write about something bigger than ourselves. What I really care about is all people having the ability to live a sustainable life- a life in which they can support themselves, and their families.
There are millions of people who live in poverty everyday. Entire continents of people who struggle daily to feed themselves, to afford education and healthcare. Thousands of people die every day because they do not have the means of survival. In North America we have so much, we have far more resources than we could ever need, and our wealth is simply unimaginable to those living in the two thirds world. Why is this so? Why are we so greedy that we won’t even share enough of the resources God has given us to allow the majority of the world to EAT every day?
Sustainability for every one seems like such a large task, one that is impossible to achieve. It is bigger than any individual person, and is far too much for any one person to try and tackle. However, together it is possible to make a radical difference in the lives of many people who live in extreme poverty. It is possible to do this by providing for their needs in the long term- to give them a means of living, not just for one day, but having a LIFE. It is like the old Chinese Proverb- “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime”.
There are a variety of methods that this has proven possible. Many organizations have been set up to give women small business loans. By giving a small loan a woman is able to use it to buy supplies to start a business (often times by making a craft), which she can then sell and repay the loan, and make a profit. This profit allows her to continue her business as well as provide for her family. It is mainly women who receive these loans because they have been found to be more reliable in repayment, as well as more likely to use the money on the welfare for their families.
Another method is the giving of animals. A family who receives an animal can use the eggs or milk in their diets, as well as sell the excess for money for other foods, medication and education. They can also sell the babies for more money, after the first baby has been given back to the organization to be given to another family in need. In this way, many families will be given the start towards a new, sustainable existence. All of this, from one animal donation.
There are many organizations who offer these types of programs. Last year for Christmas, my brother and I donated a goat to a family in Rwanda from my dad through Canadian Baptist Ministries. World Vision puts out an entire catalogue of options for donations, including animals, small business loans, school supplies, medications and toys. The Heifer Project also does this type of animal donations. Also, check out Pam’s blog about sponsoring a child.
Many times a donation made in another person’s name for Christmas is the perfect way to help a family in need, without giving into the materialistic perception of Christmas that we now have. Although Christmas is still almost two months away, stores are now putting up their decorations to encourage you start your Christmas shopping already. As you begin to think about what you would like to get for your friends and family this year, and you envision the mountains of nicely wrapped gifts under the tree I encourage you to also imagine the children around the world who will not receive anything this Christmas, some who have never even heard of Christmas. Remember the gift God gave us at the first Christmas. A Savior who came to bring us life. Consider giving the gift of life this Christmas.
