Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Compassion must lead to action!
Doesn't this kid look really young? =) His name is Davin, from Cambodia. I've been sponsoring him since he was 10 years old (back in 2007). He stays in the province of Takeo, located at the south of Phnom Penh (the capital). Davin told me, that he aspires to be a doctor one day! WOO! Like me, Davin grows up in a single parent home.
This is Davin when he was 10 years old.
When he was 11 years old...
And now he's 12 years old! And he grew taller!!
One day i was reading a magazine (can't remember which mag...think it's Reader's Digest), and i came across an advert that says "Sponsor a Child", by World Vision. Somehow, i kept thinking about it the next few days. It only takes $45 a month to sponsor a child. This child will then have shelter, food, proper education, and other basic needs met, as a result of your sponsorship.
At first, i was hesitating whether to do it. But as i thought about it, i figured out that $45 is not a huge amount, if we're talking about providing for a child's needs for a month. If i can buy a bag that cost $50, why can't i give $45 to a child in need? If i can spend $40 on clothes, why can't i give $45 to invest in a child's future?
With that simple reasoning, i concluded that compassion must lead to action. If not, it's no point feeling sorry for all these needy people. So i decided to sponsor a child.
I was given the choice to sponsor a child from various countries (e.g. Cambodia, Laos, India, Mongolia, Africa, etc). But i didn't choose...as i felt that whoever it may be, i'll just sponsor, 'cause every child deserve equal treatment. =)
The $45 that i gave monthly will not be entirely given to the child directly. Instead, the money will go to the community which my sponsored child is living in. From there, the money will go to various needs that the community have. So in another words, all the money received from child sponsors (whose sponsored child live in that community), will be pooled together. But some of the funds will directly benefit my sponsored child (e.g money for doctor, education, etc).
You see, World Vision's purpose for going to that community, is to help the community to set up a self-sustaining system. They actually teach farmers proper farming, so that they can produce more crops to sell for a living. They also help the community to dig wells, build toilets, set up animal farms, set up medical facilities, ensure the children receive proper education.
But the SPECIAL thing about sponsoring a child, is that you can further connect with him/her through letters, and photographs. You can also send small gifts to him/her. That means, the child will know you personally. If you have sufficient funds, you can also visit him at his country! =) Isn't it cool??? =)
This is one of the letters that Davin wrote to me. I've been sending stickers, colour pencils, cute erasers over to him! I think all these gifts meant a lot to him, 'cause he doesn't have the luxury of buying nice stationaries.
A letter he wrote to me last year. His original letter is in Cambodian language (Khmer) at the top of the letter. And someone will translate his letter to English. Usually he will draw a picture. Can you see the car he drew? =)
This was a letter with his hand out-lined. =) Cool right?
He tried to draw a flower for me! =)
I think the most satisfying thing, is to know that the child you sponsor is actually benefiting from your giving. It's so encouraging to receive letters from him!
If you are working, or you have the ability, why not sponsor a child? =) You will not be the first, neither will you be the last. There are also famous celebrities who are sponsoring children too.
=)
8:32 AM |
