With competition high for public charity dollars, years ago I made a commitment to contribute to one local, one national and one international charity or other non-profit agency. I was no means strict but I do feel charity fatigue sometimes with every day a colour day for a new charity and the media bombardment of overexposure of disasters and appeals.
So in the past 12 years I have tried to commit primary to the following:
- Locally I volunteered my time (which is just as good as a donation in my books) to the Mater Hospital Radiolollop as well as supporting the local Scouting and Guiding movements and their fundraising initiatives.
- Living in Queensland the Surf Lifesaving Movement is important to keep our beaches safe and I always freely donate to them.
- 6 years ago I selected a World Vision Sponsored Child from Peru as I was a little naïve dreaming that one day I would turn up to Peru and say hello like all those celebrities do in New Idea.
So it came to a little shock that a letter arrive this week to inform me my World Vision Sponsored Child had moved away. The letter further explained that I may feel loss and find it difficult but that’s just the way things are. People move away from the community World Vision supports hence they lose the sponsorship. I was given a new photo and short biography of a new World Vision sponsored child for my consideration. It is funny how yearly report cards and photos, Christmas and Birthday cards over the past 6 years could actually be a relationship with someone whom I have never met but had hoped through my monthly donation was contributing to a bigger picture.
Maybe I did contribute enough to World Visions goals to advocate the right of the poor and vulnerable to enable them to escape the poverty cycle and that is exactly what happened? Yolanda’s family lives improved and they moved away.
Goodbye Yolanda and I wish you all the best and hope you grow up in to a successful young woman.
Best,
Lisa
