If You Want To Give Back, Do It Right

Cracked.com‘s 5 Popular Forms of Charity (That Aren’t Helping) is something I’ve been longing to find for a very, very long time. These are things I’ve been struggling to share recently because I haven’t been able to put them in quite the right words. Not only does Cracked hit many important points that need to be understood by all developed countries, but it shares this piece of important information in a humorous and jargon free way. This is especially great because the people who really need to hear it aren’t the people who regularly check out Amnesty.com but visit sites like Facebook and Twitter where the common misconception of posting a status about the colour of your bra is making world-wide change (see point number 1 in the article).

I’ve tried to pick out one or two points that I think are really key, important facts to share. But I just can’t do it. Partaking in any of the five do drive me a little insane. Even though I am guilty of some myself. I think it was around the time of the tsunami in Japan where I really realized how big of a problem charity can cause. For this reason, I’ve decided to specifically share this section of the article:

Take the earthquake that struck Japan in 2011. While it was truly an awful tragedy, Japan is a wealthy country that is extremely well-versed in recovering from whatever geography throws at it. However, due to the dramatic nature of the disaster, the outpouring of aid from around the world was so amazing that Japan got way more than it needed. And thanks to earmarking, instead of using the surplus donations to help other countries in need or prepare for the next disaster, charities were stuck spending it in the Land of the Rising Sun … despite the fact that Japan stated multiple times that they didn’t need or even want our help.

I understand how disasters stir the desire to do some good in people. But what we really need to realize is there are disasters all over the world every day, from Africa to here at home. Every day disasters like poverty or slave labour or child labour or domestic violence or malaria or the slow loss of our democratic process in Ottawa.

My whole point is, if you’re going to donate and give back, make sure you are doing actual good with your effort. Take the time to think, research and understand the real needs. Please do it right.

And don’t buy Tom’s Shoes.

The Problem with Food Banks

“[Taylor] is philosophically opposed to the food bank’s existence because as long as the food bank exists, the government will never be forced to look at the real reasons people come to food banks,” says Aason.

He rhymes off those reasons: lack of a living wage; lack of affordable daycare; lack of affordable housing. “The single parents that come to us have to work two or three jobs to sustain themselves.”

Read the rest of this great article from The Tyee here.

Stories of Value: Photos of Faith in Action

A warning to all of my close family and friends: you are probably going to be sick of seeing this project by the time I’m done talking about it.

A semester ago I took part in one of the most amazing experiences that will forever impact all of my future decisions. Cheesy to the extreme, but true. The SFU Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue program is more than just a 15-credit class. It helps shape your academics, business and life. And as the post-dialogue semester comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on my time in dialogue and all that I accomplished.

I didn’t know if a team of 16 could work together to organize and facilitate a public dialogue about faith and community. I am still in disbelief that in a few short hours, the members of the dialogue outside from the tight circle of 16 were able to engage with each other respectfully and openly. I was lucky to be the photographer, surprise surprise, and it gave me a unique way to observe and take in the events of the day. I got to learn something from every participant.

I was also able to grow by developing my own project. The world was basically my oyster. I felt the need to go back to my roots and find a way to possibly make an impact in the world of homelessness and poverty. I created a bit of a photo essay to share the stories of people connecting their faith to their work. I originally had intentions to take this project as far as it could go but these days I’ve thought that I should leave it as is. It taught me a lot but I think I need to move on to other exciting projects.

But I am still proud of my work and I doubt there will be a time I wouldn’t want to show it off. Please enjoy the photos and learn from the stories behind them. Check out Stories of Value: photos of faith in action. And good luck to all future Dialogue students. It is a wonderful, growing family.

MarchForth: the impact of photography spread by @100cameras

I want to share a story with you. It comes from one of my most prized possessions, Grace: Africa in Photographs by the late Andrew MacNaughtan. In the opening notes section, Karen Bliss speaks on Andrew’s experiences. I highly recommend everybody purchases this book. I wont go into too much detail now but do look into it. In essence, one of the most amazing photographers I have ever seen traveled to Africa and was able to capture all the amazing aspects of such a unique place. In the introduction, Andrew shares one of the most touching stories I have ever read in my life.

“I put him over by a tree where there’s shade and better lighting. He’s standing there and I’m shooting and he said ‘What do you want me to do?’ I said, ‘Anything.’ ‘Do you want me to dance?’ he asked. Seems like everyone wants to dance for me,” Andrews laughs. “So I said, ‘Sure.’ Then he asked, ‘Can I take your picture?’ I showed him how to hold the camera and he started clicking away. We really connected. It was one of those great moments.”

…

Days after Andrew left Kenya, his sister learned that her brother had borrowed the local pastor’s point-and-shoot camera and started photographing the local community. “She wrote to Cathy saying that he was so inspired by what I had shown him,” relays Andrew. “She explained that he had started school later than most because he was needed at home to help his father with their livestock. So by the time he did attend school, he just didn’t see the advantage of going, even thought most kids are excited to be there and the opportunity for education. He simply hadn’t yet discovered something he was passionate about.”

Andrew and company then raised money to buy this boy his own camera. He now prints and sells his photographs, buying seven goats and saving for college with the profits. He plans on going to college in Nairobi for photography.

“The purpose of this book is art through photography,” says Andrew, “and it’s photography that inspired this kid to become a photographer and he’s using photography to change his life…”

Those who know me know how passionate and dedicated I am to photography as well as humanitarian aid work, especially in impoverished African areas. I have always felt a connection between art and social change. I feel that it is my life’s purpose to forge this connection even stronger and create change through art. For these and many other reason, I chose to take part in March Forth with a wonderful organization by the name of 100 Cameras.

100cameras teaches children how to tell their story through photography. With cameras in hand, the children become the storytellers in ways that a foreigner could not. This encourages a stronger self-view, resulting in higher levels of confidence and ownership in their identity. And ultimately, in their future.

This amazing group empower children around the globe through photography. They teach children how to tell their stories through the lens of a camera. With no cost to the children, 100 Cameras gives them a camera to document their lives then sells these photos with all profits going right back to the photographer. And these children truly are photographers and storytellers in every sense of the word.

Don’t believe me? Check out this story from Sudan.

In 2008, 100cameras launched the first ever project at St. Bartholomew’s orphanage in Kajo Keji, Sudan that serves as a home to 80 orphans who had lost their families during the 21-year civil war that was ravaging their country. The orphanage was founded by Sudanese war widows and primarily focuses on caring for orphans and the disabled within the growing refugee population.

To date, the sale of the children’s photos has enabled St. Bartholomew’s to improve the conditions of their current orphanages and begin plans for expansion.  They have been able to construct a protective fence around the entire campus which was necessitated by the increased rebel activity in South Sudan during the 2010 North & South referendum voting.

I strongly encourage you to look at this organization, check out what they are doing and buy a print. Not only are they stunning, they directly help children in so many way. Children who need and deserve the help. Go to their website, check out some featured photographers and check out their social media. Such a simple idea, near and dear to my heart, and an easy way to do some good. Make some change.

And spread the change! Share this with your network! Bring up the photo you buy with guests. Take two seconds to tweet about them. So many easy ways to help. It only takes two seconds of our time, but it creates a lifetime of a difference in a child’s eyes.

Mission. 100cameras empowers marginalized children to document their lives through photography and to create
positive change in their own communities. 100% of the money from the children’s purchased prints is used to raise
awareness and capital to meet physical needs and empower sustainable growth within their community.

http://www.100cameras.org

Jagrup Brar on Welfare

For those who haven’t heard, Surrey -Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar has taken on a welfare challenge. For the month of January, Jagrup has to live on $610 for the month. He spent January 1 and 2 homeless as he waited for the welfare offices to open. Today he “applied” for welfare, found a place to rent, got a phone so he can look for work and got some bus tickets.

I have followed this story from the start and got an e-mail from a man with the organization putting this on. These few lines really capture the difficulties of living on welfare in Vancouver.

MLA Jagrup Brar ‘applies for welfare’ today as part of the Welfare Challenge

Today, after spending two days homeless waiting for the welfare office to open, Jagrup Brar ‘applied for welfare’. He discovered the many obstacles to getting on welfare. And then discovered after paying for housing, a damage deposit, bus tickets and a phone (both necessary to look for work) there isn’t much money left.

Brar has $108 for food and other necessities for the month. The Dietitians of Canada say that a man of Brar’s age needs to spend $234 a month on food to have a nutritious diet.

-Bill Hopwood

Emery Barns, a former BC Lions player and Canadian politician, did the same thing about twenty-five years ago. Way back then — after struggling for the month, losing a lot of weight and needing to get serious help — he recommended welfare be raised to $700. He managed to be influential in getting welfare to $610. If $610 wasn’t enough in the 80′s, what makes people believe $610 is enough for a human being to survive on today?

By keeping welfare so low, we basically perpetuate poverty in the Downtown Eastside. Am I crazy for seeing a problem with this?

Anyway, I wish the best of luck to Mr. Brar and I think what he is doing is amazing. I hope we are able to make some serious change with this.