The defining moment in my life that shifted the way I was thinking...and brought me to ubuntu.
Great question. Tough to answer.
In the sense of living and breathing and working and playing.
In the past few days I have been completely blown away by the number of sustainable social entrepreneurship projects I'm seeing that have evolved from life-changing trips overseas. I keep being attracted to them, reading about them, having friends send them to me, and it consumes my thoughts and energies. I too returned from overseas trips changed and want to find a way to devote more of my life to giving back to our always-growing, ever-changing global community.
Some examples of what people have done:
A friend sent me the story of Pencils of Promise: What started as handing out pens and pencils to kids in developing countries has now led to building over 100 schools across the globe. Super inspirational and energetic story here >>
Then there are the fashion gurus who have taken to a cause and are raising money, employing people in developing countries and outfitting North Americans with lovely styles: Sevenly, Punjammies, and Ten Tree.org (founded by Saskatchewanites - heck ya!)
So...if my whole goal is a long term impact, what can I do? We have an incredible place in the global society (as Canadians), yet I still wonder: how do I go about it? I returned changed just like all of these founders. Should I look at their business models for starting my own? Or should I join the MANY incredible causes out there? Should I wait and learn more? I think the answer to all of the above is YES. So I started to outline for myself some structure in that.
A. Get started.
After I saw John Wood speak and my life changed, I just went for it. I tried to host a golf tournament and couldn't find the resources to fund it nor work on it. I failed. And that was okay! I volunteered with Children's Wish Foundation, Siloam Mission and UNICEF in Winnipeg at various events. I took the step up to sitting on a committee with Little Travellers and Habitat for Humanity. I matched my wanderlust for travel with opportunities to help in Africa, India and Central America. Sure, there wasn't a lot of focus, but there was drive and passion. I just got started wherever I could.
B. Focus.
I find the Universe is composed of a lot of yin and yang. Those who have a dollar, can give $0.50. etc. Therefore I believe I'm in a position to help, so I'm going to do it. But there are all kinds of issues out there. And in order for one woman to make an impact, I need to focus on what really gets me passionate. Through trial and error I've discovered the issues I feel most directly related to my spirit are a. women empowerment and gender equality, b. violence against children, and c. lack of the most basic need: food. World hunger, if you will. We have ample opportunity to grow an abundance of food with our bountiful planet. Why on earth would people starve? Well, it comes down to corruption. greed. etc. (side rant)
To focus my energies on my big three, I chose organizations that are close to me and my heart: IWEN, Hope for the Nations and Otra Fe. You have read (if you've been here before) about IWEN (women) and Otra Fe (food security). To fill that final puzzle piece, I had a meeting this week with Hope for the Nations. I'm hoping to get involved with them here in Kelowna. (HFTN focuses on children that are “at-risk” in developing countries due to conflict and war, extreme poverty and child trafficking.)
C. Education.
I am the kind of person that can act confident in any situation, even if I'm dying of fear inside. That came from moving around so much and travelling alone. I can fake it 'til I make it like the best of 'em. Yet this often means jumping head first into a plethora of decisions that don't always leave me on the sunny side up.
This is one thing I can't mess up. If I was to create relationships with partners overseas, I need to know there is longevity and sustainability there. So to volunteer with organizations who have those partnerships forged and cemented feels like a no-brainer. Now it's about how I can add value to these organizations. Through my marketing background, communications and branding is like breathing to me. And taking international development courses is just quenching my thirst for structured education on this passion of mine. So for now, I halt. I listen. And most importantly, I learn.
D. My long term impact?
This is where I'm still unsure. I recently switched industries to work with growers in Canada. It was a baby step. Maybe the next stage is a career with a non-profit or it could be starting my own social entrepreneurship initiative. On Tuesday, I'm giving a branding presentation to women business owners in Kelowna. Part of my presentation is based on Corporate Social Responsibility. Maybe I can be the connection between already-existing businesses and the causes they want to help, but aren't sure how. For they have a lot more money than I do!
Either way, whatever happens, I feel like I'm on this giant path of good that is happening in the world. As each of these organizations and the people driving them do more good in the world, I can just feel it. There is really something incredible going on here. And I'm buoyed by it.
Some examples of what people have done:
So...if my whole goal is a long term impact, what can I do? We have an incredible place in the global society (as Canadians), yet I still wonder: how do I go about it? I returned changed just like all of these founders. Should I look at their business models for starting my own? Or should I join the MANY incredible causes out there? Should I wait and learn more? I think the answer to all of the above is YES. So I started to outline for myself some structure in that.
A. Get started.
After I saw John Wood speak and my life changed, I just went for it. I tried to host a golf tournament and couldn't find the resources to fund it nor work on it. I failed. And that was okay! I volunteered with Children's Wish Foundation, Siloam Mission and UNICEF in Winnipeg at various events. I took the step up to sitting on a committee with Little Travellers and Habitat for Humanity. I matched my wanderlust for travel with opportunities to help in Africa, India and Central America. Sure, there wasn't a lot of focus, but there was drive and passion. I just got started wherever I could.
B. Focus.
I find the Universe is composed of a lot of yin and yang. Those who have a dollar, can give $0.50. etc. Therefore I believe I'm in a position to help, so I'm going to do it. But there are all kinds of issues out there. And in order for one woman to make an impact, I need to focus on what really gets me passionate. Through trial and error I've discovered the issues I feel most directly related to my spirit are a. women empowerment and gender equality, b. violence against children, and c. lack of the most basic need: food. World hunger, if you will. We have ample opportunity to grow an abundance of food with our bountiful planet. Why on earth would people starve? Well, it comes down to corruption. greed. etc. (side rant)
To focus my energies on my big three, I chose organizations that are close to me and my heart: IWEN, Hope for the Nations and Otra Fe. You have read (if you've been here before) about IWEN (women) and Otra Fe (food security). To fill that final puzzle piece, I had a meeting this week with Hope for the Nations. I'm hoping to get involved with them here in Kelowna. (HFTN focuses on children that are “at-risk” in developing countries due to conflict and war, extreme poverty and child trafficking.)
C. Education.
I am the kind of person that can act confident in any situation, even if I'm dying of fear inside. That came from moving around so much and travelling alone. I can fake it 'til I make it like the best of 'em. Yet this often means jumping head first into a plethora of decisions that don't always leave me on the sunny side up.
This is one thing I can't mess up. If I was to create relationships with partners overseas, I need to know there is longevity and sustainability there. So to volunteer with organizations who have those partnerships forged and cemented feels like a no-brainer. Now it's about how I can add value to these organizations. Through my marketing background, communications and branding is like breathing to me. And taking international development courses is just quenching my thirst for structured education on this passion of mine. So for now, I halt. I listen. And most importantly, I learn.
This is where I'm still unsure. I recently switched industries to work with growers in Canada. It was a baby step. Maybe the next stage is a career with a non-profit or it could be starting my own social entrepreneurship initiative. On Tuesday, I'm giving a branding presentation to women business owners in Kelowna. Part of my presentation is based on Corporate Social Responsibility. Maybe I can be the connection between already-existing businesses and the causes they want to help, but aren't sure how. For they have a lot more money than I do!
Either way, whatever happens, I feel like I'm on this giant path of good that is happening in the world. As each of these organizations and the people driving them do more good in the world, I can just feel it. There is really something incredible going on here. And I'm buoyed by it.
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