Societies can never reach their apex unless the populace is selfless and philanthropic. This is a belief that I hold onto. Most people assume philanthropy requires excess amounts of wealth, but I believe it simply means a love of humankind, and therefore, does not preclude someone without money from being philanthropic. This is why I believe what I am doing is a philanthropic activity.
In the spring of 2010 I held many fundraisers to raise money for young people in a Uganda (for NGOs that aimed to promote childhood development by focusing on childrens rights, educational opportunities and sensitivity to each childs unique background) in Kampala, Uganda. Prior to the trip to Uganda I took on the amazing feet of trekking to the top of the Worlds tallest freestanding mountain Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/news_view/24206/16/1/crewkerne-mountain-man-climbs-new-heights.
During this first stay I volunteered at an orphanage (BULAs Childrens Home) and in Kampala Slums. There were concerns at the time especially as Al-Qaeda- linked Somalia Militia had bombed the capital city and killed 74 people.
However, if you let everything fear you, your never do anything. So I suppressed my fears and told loved ones that I would return in one piece.
I knew that my trip was bigger than a bombing, and that I would be okay. I was going to take care of and plant a seed into the tender lives of some Ugandan children,
Looking back at the Summer I now think that volunteering abroad was a great experience and was better than filing in papers and answering calls in an office but if you are thinking about volunteering just consider responsible volunteering! Dont think youre going to change things just cause you there for a few weeks; dont go with pity; never promise the world or anything you cannot deliver, never see it as just giving a hand out Ive been going back now for the past 4 years I see things from a different prospective, no longer just a volunteer on a gap year, but someone initiating change, working with locals and communities to see self-reliance and sustainability and in 18 months overseeing and facilitating innovative projects whereby we are looking at more than just a hand out we are looking at sustaining long term futures.
My first trip I assisted in the day-to-day management of a major orphanage in Uganda and networking with other non-profit organisations in the Mengo district which really enhanced my organisational skills. It tested my patience and through the three-month long experience I discovered a very strong person that I did not even know was there.
Since that first summer, I came to recognise that the community views people that volunteer their time to be team players, and someone who is compassionate and globally considerate. It also shows that you have a work-life balance. Responsible volunteering is perhaps the single greatest deed one can do. We all can immensely contribute to the advancement of society. Furthermore, being a volunteer can also advance ones education and career; others tend to have an affinity for people who are willing to give back to society.
It is a great opportunity to realise that not all lessons are learned in the classroom. And that it is important for you to expand your horizons by volunteering your time abroad while pursing your education.
I encourage you to think about volunteerism which will allow you to grow as individuals and at the same time provide you with an excellent opportunity to see the world. It will open your eyes to a whole new way of thinking.
The experience changed my life. I know that those children and I have a forever bond. I am in constant contact with my family in Uganda. Every trip I make I leave a bigger piece of my heart there and it feels as though I never leave. Those three months of my life that I spent in Uganda continue to open doors for me everywhere I go and I would not trade that experience for the world. I encourage the youth in the UK (Our pathway is two-fold: while we aim to empower young Africans through our field projects in Uganda, we also believe that it is imperative for youth in the UK to become engaged with todays pressing global development issue, developing attributes of responsible global citizens!) to go out there and make the most of your youth and gain experience and give back. If you cannot make it to the other side of the world just yet, start in our own country [because] there is so much to be done in the UK.
After my experiences over the past few years I suggest that all young people keep an open mind and hearts to the idea of volunteerism during your youth and if you are interested in volunteering with FACESAfrica contact us here – https://www.facebook.com/#!/facesafrica and check with the British Consulate for visa processes and required vaccination, if any, for your destination, and I encourage you to pack lightly. Researching the culture, language and history of the community is also important. And when in the country I suggest talking to the locals and am considerate of their religious views and cultural preferences. Through it all, you must be courageous as the world is at your feet.
I have also worked in Tanzania and Kenya. I am a partial-trained Special Educational Needs teacher; currently working in a selection of UK schools, Im a specialist in Philosophy for Children and the Director & Founder of FACESAfrica.
I set up FACESAfrica within the last 2 years as a dynamic, frontline charity working to alleviate poverty through empowerment, enterprise and education. Sustainability is at the heart of FACEs work which is why we believe a hand-up is more effective than a hand out. Our aim is to provide innovative and holistic educational and supportive mentoring programmes, which place the power to change firmly in young peoples hands.
I believe we as Westerners should be thinking more about how we can Empower and provide a hand-up rather than a handout, how we can create a self-sustainable future and to continue to explain that aid works best when it supports people in their own immense, ongoing and incredible success efforts to make their own lives better; wealth creation instead of perennial dependence We should be using images of Africa to show the great things that are happening, there is still so much work to be done but we should work with them to enable Africans to work themselves out of poverty that they have seen from generation to generation. I would like to work at changing the perception that Africa lags behind while other continents continue to lead.
Since a young age I have had the passion and enthusiasm to change lives of young people, I was like many young people who did the conventional and watched charity events on TV and was just encouraged to donate money or do fundraising for charity e.g. the shoebox appeal; giving money through Red Nose Day and Sport Relief. It is my passion to empower young people globally; to become responsible global citizens. I believe through working with young people and encouraging them to actively get involved we can help young people understand that development starts from within and that we have to help showcase the identity of those living in developing countries and if what we do and the aid that we give is appropriated well it can help.
Quote: I believe Young People deserve to grow up in a world where they can play, laugh and develop their own unique potential, Young people deserve to be given an opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty that has been passed on from generation to generation.
