Starting points

Growing up, my parents had always instilled a strong sense of sympathy in me for those less fortunate than our family. We weren't rich, but we never wanted for our basic necessities; we had a roof over our heads, groceries in the fridge, heat and running water as well as the occasional luxury to lighten the burden of middle class boredom. We were a (fairly) typical middle class, suburban family. I remember, at a rather young age that I saw this trend of disparity and suffering in the World around me and I didn't like it. I didn't like the way it made me feel. I didn't like knowing that I could choose what I wanted while others couldn't even have what they need. I didn't like feeling too full to finish a plate of dinner when there were people on the streets who would do anything for the scraps left on my plate. I didn't like not knowing how to help; so I started trying to.

I did what I could, when I could and jumped at the opportunity to help out with school programs and different things with Cubs and Scouts. Sometimes I got the itch to do more and would organize my own fundraisers for different people in need. The desire to help never went away, and my sympathy for those in need only grew with age. Unfortunately, I let the chaos of life get in the way of my drive for charity over the last few years. I hate to admit it, but I always come up with this excuse, or that reason, or some other obligation that kept me from getting more involved than I was.

Well, no more excuses. I've made the decision to dedicate a larger portion of my time and energy trying to serve others and help them with a hand up and not a hand out. I try to approach charity in a different way, and love that I've found people who view it with a similar mind and an open heart. Helping people help themselves, and empowering those in need to redirect their lives in a positive direction.

My current project that I am fundraising my way towards, is spending a month or so in Rwanda. I will be volunteering with an organization called P.R.E.F.E.R. (Poverty reduction, education, family empowerment in Rwanda). I will be helping out at the preschool and with other little projects that they will be working on in the new year. I can't begin to express how enthusiastic I feel about this, and hope you'll follow along as I prepare and eventually make my way to Kigali!

More to come!


If you have the means, please help @
http://www.gofundme.com/51dz24