One of the most profound questions I have been asked is, “why do you do charity work?” For so long I had the classic yet predictable answer, that it is where my burden is. It is what I am most passionate about, and I have a burning desire to see change in my community. This comes with a responsibility to play my part. I was satisfied with this answer, the only problem is that over time the answer became inadequate.
Philanthropy requires a constant burning desire to get up and push for change, for its benefits are not measured monetarily. Something needs to fuel you, because doing charity work comes with its own set of challenges. You will be accused of seeking recognition and popularity through philanthropic means. A way of getting media headlines so that people can view you in a positive light. There too, will be the naysayers that insist that your means and methods don’t have enough impact, because they do not exactly uproot poverty and the inequality faced by the people whose lives you are trying to improve. This is close to the truth, but the reality is, it does not paint the whole picture.
When I started doing charity work at the age of 20, I had a conviction in my heart that I could affect change in the lives of the second economy. I have had this belief since I was a child. I spoke about it often, but I had not left footprints on the road to making this dream a reality. A few months before I turned 21, I had a moment of self-reflection, where I asked myself where my life was headed to. It kept zeroing in on the want to change and impact lives. So I asked myself, should I one day approach government to be granted an opportunity to open an orphanage, what will support this narrative? What have I done in my life that has shown my love for people and most importantly, my desire for equality?
This is what changed my life. It was that moment that my life started to unfold before my very eyes and I got to work. I started on this dream that always seemed to be far off in the future. I took it to be my NOW. That regardless of how seemingly small the splash was, I was going to start by diving in. If my efforts touched one life, that would be a step closer to my dream. There is a misconception that if it does not change a nation, it should not be done. The truth is far simpler…it just takes one life at a time to change a generation. There’s a popular saying that those that believe they can change the world are usually the ones that do.
To answer the question, why do I do charity work? Because if the tables were turned and I had been the one in a position of need, I would want someone to extend a helping hand to me too.
This is where I derive my fuel from to keep on doing charity work, to keep pushing and hoping that one day my efforts will show a change in the lives of many. Being held accountable to the fact that my own father was taken in by an uncle who also gave him an opportunity at an education, a helping hand which today translated in my being a graduate. Someone extended a helping hand and it changed two generations. I want to be amongst a group of people who affect change in the hope that one day we can say – WE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
With a tad bit of crazy
Love,
Mavis
The EM LOVE Foundation will be running another Street store in Windhoek on the 27th of May at Palm Tree Park.
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