We live in a harsh reality. More than one billion people worldwide live in poverty. According to the United Nations, about 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. Famine and wars account for about 10 percent of these deaths, according to TheHungerSite.com. However, malnutrition is the reason for the majority of hunger-related deaths within poverty-stricken communities, both nationally and internationally.
Yet hope remains. Because foregoing a meal to experience the pain of the less fortunate will not resolve the problem, we need to focus on taking more progressive, affirmative actions. There are numerous credible organizations out there vying for our attention and our donations. But I only have so much money to give away before I have to start worrying about where I’m going to get my next meal. Thus, I like to know every cent I give will be worthwhile. Once I mail my check I like to know exactly what it will fund.
Many organizations use donations to instigate positive changes around the world. For instance, a donation to Oxfam can provide buckets for clean water, textbooks for students, and even life-changing opportunities like small-business training. Though these are good causes, the money does not target a particular problem or provide immediate relief of one. I can’t be sure I am truly helping people when the $20 or $30 I give is split in countless directions. While these provisions are beneficial, I think my money is more valuable when used for one particular item.
What if I could know where in the world my money would be sent and exactly what I was giving?
Imagine purchasing a llama for a deprived family in Latin America, a water buffalo for a Filipino farmer or a flock of ducks for a family in China. Heifer International is a non-profit whose self-stated goal is “to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability.” Heifer enables donors to select an animal or group of animals of their choice to be given to families around the world, from Russia to Tanzania to Uganda and even places here in the United States.
Take the llama, for example. Women living in cold regions of the world weave the animal’s fleece into warm clothing to wear or sell. It’s also a useful pack animal, able to travel long distances across rugged slopes at high altitudes. This one llama becomes an invaluable source of transportation, income and wool for a family, instantly improving its quality of life.
There are also less expensive options that are just as beneficial.
One Christmas, back in high school, I opted to by a flock of chicks through Heifer in honor of my friends. The chicks I donated provided families from Cameroon to the Caribbean with nourishing, life-sustaining eggs. The donation pleasantly surprised my friends, fit my budget, changed the livelihood of a family on another continent, and left me feeling happy and helpful.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it’s time to think about gifts for friends and family members. This year, rather than spending your money on a piece of jewelry or knick-knack that is just going to sit at home, hardly touched, why not give a meaningful gift that will keep on giving? One animal may not seem like much to some people, but for starving families around the world, one animal can mean the difference between life and death.
I strongly feel that despite our different beliefs, backgrounds and personalities, we all deserve the ability to provide a livelihood for ourselves and for our families, at the very least. If we can, we must also help those who may not be able to provide for themselves. But with the state of the economy, many prospective donors cannot afford to provide money to just any organization. While willingness and ability to give any sum of money are important steps toward a better world, it is important to ensure that each donation targets a specific issue.
Solving hunger-related problems requires taking small steps. In the long run, we can have an even greater impact on the bigger picture if we begin with helping one family at a time.
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