A few weeks ago I had the brilliant idea of showing Aidan pictures of starving African children because I was tired of complaints about his food. The pictures didn't really impact his eating habits, but the "kids who don't have food or houses" have become a frequent topic of conversation. He is always wondering how they are doing, if they have any food, if the bird ate the boys, and if he can call and talk to them.
Last week he wrote them a little letter, and placed it in the mailbox with the flag up. (The mailman kindly hid it in our other mail so Aidan didn't realize his letter never made it.) He put all sorts of stickers in the letter for them , and he also wanted to pick them some lettuce from our garden, but we decided it might wilt before it arrives in Africa.
The whole thing was just so sweet. He genuinely is concerned for their well-being, and I want to foster that spirit of compassion so he will continue to care about others as he grows into a young boy and eventually a man. I am going to set a goal for the next school year - finding something the three of us can do physically as a family that shows him ways he can care for others, and also helps him understand how fortunate we are here in America. Anyone have any good ideas?
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3 comments:
This is Nat's husband. I'm a huge fan of a micro-financing site called Kiva
www.kiva.org
Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty.
What does $25 or $50 mean to most of us? A few overpriced coffees at Starbucks? In the hands of an entrepreneurial individual in a third world country it means sooooo much.
www.kiva.org/about/microfinance/
I'm supporting a particular entrepreneur in Tajikistan . He has been slowly paying back the loan (interest free) to those who have helped him. Once his full loan has been paid off the money goes back to the lenders who can then use that money to help someone else.
I'm encouraging Naphtali to skip gifts for Christmas (Those faithful readers of her blog will know that is a complete impossibility. She loves to give gifts!) and instead give the equivalent cash amount in a Kiva gift certificate. The recipient would go online and choose someone to loan the $25 to. The hope is that our friends and family would see how easy it is and then contribute additional money to other entrepreneurs.
I'm an entrepreneurial individual. Too often I hear people complaining about the problems in the world and not doing ANYTHING. I say find a way to be a solution to the problem you see. Kiva is a grassroots solution to alleviate poverty.
So please please, get involved. It is incredibly easy and you'll have fun following the progress of your entrepreneurs.
http://www.kiva.org/about/how/
I'm going to take Aidan on this weekend so he can choose his own entrepreneurs to assist.
Kiva- Loans that change lives
dude. start your own blog.
Ok... fine I'll get my own blog
http://www.kiva.org/about/inside
;)
So it isn't MY blog but it IS Kiva's blog. Check it out!
Luv ya honey!
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