on their website. There is never enough said in appreciation for the
compassion in action of people who volunteer their time, skills and personal
funds to make the world, at least this part that we can touch, a better place.
Space did not allow the inclusion of every one of the wonderful folks who have
made Changes for New Hope the success that we have become in the last 4 years,
but they can never be forgotten in the hearts of the children, or my
own.
2 Years Later, the Amazing Difference Volunteers Have
Made for One Organization
by
Shari Ilsen posted on September 5, 2013
Posted in Inspiration
Guest post by Jim Killon,
Changes for New Hope
When I first began studying the martial arts over 20 years ago, I started out as
a white belt, as everyone does. My first thought was, “Stand back everybody, I
know karate!” Only as I developed into more advanced levels and finally into
brown belt training did I realize how premature and dangerous that thinking was.
Wisdom is knowing that you have so much more to learn.
When VolunteerMatch’s Laura Weiss wrote a wonderful spotlight article about
Changes for New Hope and my initial efforts to develop this
project and reach poor children and their families in the Peruvian Andes, we had
many positive and wonderful responses. That was in October 2011. My martial arts
training taught me that we had a long way to go and so much more to learn to
accomplish our objectives for the children living in destitution.
No one can do much alone. I sure couldn’t, and I credit the efforts of the
international volunteers, such as the ones that are here on VolunteerMatch, for
making our project what it has become since Laura’s initial contact with me. In my blogs I write how “Compassion without action is like a picnic without food.” Here are some of the results of the compassionate actions of our volunteers:
Bex from the U.K. spent several months with us
here in Peru and returned to further raise awareness and funds
for our project by running a half marathon.
Kekai in Tokyo, Japan collected children’s school supplies, clothing and
funds and brought them to us in Huaraz, then returned and made a short film clip
about our project.
Sergui, a photojournalist for National Geographic, met me while filming an
expedition in the area. He was moved by our work and interviewed me and filmed
the children of the project in action to be included in an upcoming National Geographic
special.
Richard and his family in Toronto, Canada visited to volunteer and now
source, collect and bring down to Peru clothing, school supplies, hygiene
supplies, shoes, toys and games and promotional materials for the project, as
well as providing funding. Richard travels to Peru three or four times a year to
do this.
Marcus and his family send us suitcases of materials and supplies from the
U.S. for the children, which we cannot obtain locally.
Ruth, from the Vancouver area, is a professional schoolteacher and joined us
recently to share her expertise and develop ideas to further the project from
back home.
Gunvor, from Denmark, who volunteered with us this year, returned to Denmark
and she and her mother are supplying Christmas gifts for all the children for
the second year in a row.
Julian Lennon, through his White Feather Foundation
in London, gave us international recognition and awareness by supporting our
project. He is our celebrity supporter who encourages others to support us, also.
The value of volunteers cannot be overstated. Without the compassion in
action of volunteers, whether from home or in the field, NGOs and other
non profits simply would disappear. Thousands who depend on these organizations
would be lost.
Finally, after almost 5 years, it was time to share our story with the world.
I wrote and recently published an e-book entitled, “A Gringo in Peru – A Story
of Compassion in Action,” (available through Lulu.com, Kobobooks.com,
Amazon and Bookcountry.com) which shares our story of challenges and subsequent
successes and victories that followed. If you want to make the world a better
place, this is a definite read for you. Here is the link:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-killon/a-gringo-in-peru-a-story-of-compassion-in-action/ebook/product-21047007.html
In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has.” Live large my friends, live deliberately.
Jim Killon is from Baltimore, Maryland. In 2009 he fulfilled a long-time
dream of developing a project for the benefit of children living in a 3rd world
country. He is an exhibited artist and photographer, writer/author and a social
activist. His “Haz lo Correcto – Do the Right Thing” campaign in Huaraz, Peru
has increased community awareness toward positive development there. His newly
published e-book, “A Gringo in Peru – A Story of Compassion in Action,” has
already reached readers in seven countries. He has never returned to the United
States.