It wasn't that they were willing to make a contribution or donation to our project. The question was from a heart that realized it takes a certain type of person, a level of compassion that is demonstrated by very few and a love that extended beyond their own circle of family and friends.
I am deeply moved, moved enough to write this blog about it, when I see people who share my compassion for the children in such miserable conditions that I have to tear myself away from their pueblos at the day's end. It grieves me deeply that there is so much more that needs to be done to develop whole communities from a level of desperation and destitution into hope and opportunities. It grieves me that so many who see suffering like I see around the world turn a blind eye to it and click on the television and pretend that it is gone just because it is forgotten.
While we at Changes for New Hope have determined not to lower ourselves to the level of "Poverty Porn", a term I borrowed from a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, which is what you see on late night info-mercials. If people do not wish to help alleviate the suffering of children in the world, massive doses of guilt and pictures of fly infested children isn't going to move them either.
We prefer to share the successes and victories from such conditions. The building of self esteem using art exhibitions, like the one shown on our front page, creativity games and activities and we seek to bring children out of a desperation mentality into a sense of hope and encouragement for a brighter future. That future, incidentally, starts now. We share with our readers, supporters and friends a story that children have become better educated by our efforts, that children in perpetual illness have overcome their sicknesses with multiple vitamins and thermal blankets to protect them from cold Andean nights. Decent shoes and clothing, replaces the rags and ill-fitting clothing they were wearing before. Games and toys, books and a small but exciting library occupies young minds now. We have reached hundreds of children in the past five years areas that Changes for New Hope has been active. We need to reach thousands more.
I am disturbed when I have to walk through a village that is several desert mountains away from even the most humble of conveniences and can not provide much more than a token of materials and help for them. This was my recent experience in a village called Llacellin. It took hours to arrive there. After I addressed the school children, about Haz lo Correcto-Do the Right Thing, I distributed school materials and other supplies that I knew they would need and probably could not acquire anytime soon. They were like a swarm of ants eagerly grabbing whatever I was bringing out of my large duffel bag for them. But it was not nearly enough. It would not require much effort to bring success and hope to this village. All we need is a few more compassionate hearts to ask," What can I do to help."
Prayers, well wishes, and good old 'Atta boys' are all nice, appreciated and completely useless to touch the lives of children who are needing help just to pull themselves out of desperation and despair. Excuses, are creative ways to explain the blind eye they turn which allows the desperation to continue. Honestly, many years ago, back in my comfortable American life, I used to do the same thing. A plane crash in Kenya was a tragedy but caught about 30 seconds of my attention. A deadly tornado in Oklahoma was closer to home and I would read the whole article in the newspaper, then turn the page to the sports section. A sniper on the roof in Baltimore down the street from my house was urgent. But the sound of a car screeching with the sickening sound of a child screaming five minutes after my son just left on his bicycle is gut wrenching. That said, how close does human suffering have to be before you, dear reader, will say, "What can I do to help?"
Aren't we all connected in the same human experience regardless of how close or far away each of us may be from another? Imagine a tree with many branches and thousands of leaves. If the human experience is the tree, then we are all part of the whole though we may be different leaves on different branches but all part of the same tree.
What can you do to help? You would be surprised how much you can do with very little effort right from your own living room sofa. Would you find it as exciting and encouraging as I do to learn that $5 would feed a child lunch for a whole school week? How would you feel to know that a post card from where ever you happen to live would brighten the day of a children and give them a sense of self value because someone from very far away cared enough to say hello and share a message of love and hope? Imagine cleaning out the attic of all those old toys and games your children no longer play with and shipping a box to the children who have never had a toy or game to play with. Would a hand made letter of gratitude written by the children arriving in your mailbox make your day?
Not every superhero is found wearing a mask and cape in comic books. Some heroes look like you and me. People who don't turn the page, or a blind eye, or make some excuse that is synonymous with "I really do not care". Heroes like you and I are putting their compassion in action everyday, in one way or another. Not out of guilt inspired by "poverty porn" on late night info-mercials, but because the love that is in our hearts. Is your heart large enough to reach across a continent or two, and into the lives of children who you may never meet but will be forever grateful that you cared and shared?
How about it? Before you forget or get busy on some other chore, can you go back to page one of this website and click on the donate button? Would you consider sending a postcard to the children with a message of hope and love? The mailing address is also on page one. How about hitting a home run of compassion and sending those toys and board games your children have outgrown and will never use again to these kids in the Peruvian Andes.
You can feel like a hero because you are a hero. You can be part of something very special and heartwarming as many of us have found, there is nothing quite like it. It just takes a few minutes out of your busy day and what will amount to just pocket change from you.
Thank you for reading this blog, all the way through. Thank you for being someone who sings music to every humanitarian's ears, and to the children who receive your love. "What can I do to help?"
Now you know, and now it's time for compassion in action.
Thank you!
~~ Jim Killon