Last Saturday, I attended a World Vision event to promote the “1000 Girls – She Matters” event. I was very touched by Yaru from Cambodia who courageously and eloquently shared her story of how her life changed through joining World Vision. And not just her life, but her community in Cambodia as well.
When I donate to charity organizations and churches, I seldom see the direct impact of my donations. Yaru’s story gave me an insight of a charitable organization’s impact to the community that they are committed to serve.
I realize that: a small single action can have rippling effects to larger communities. I decided to pledge my donation of RM65 per month to sponsor a child in World Vision – it is a personal and effective way to empower a child and her family as well as the community – and to break the chain of abuse, ignorance, oppression and poverty.
My bigger realization is that – we don’t always know the impact of our actions – that our impact to people around us are more significant that we think or assume. In our families, our actions and decisions model for our children our values and hopes for them. At work, our actions affect our company’s performance. In our social circle, our interactions with our friends reveal our care and concern for them. In our social media, our comments and likes make another person’s day. In a strange place, our warm smile brightens another person’s mood. Anywhere and anytime, a kind word or action always brings hope and joy to another person. Whenever there is an opportunity to say something nice to another person, say it sincerely with a smile. Whenever there is an opportunity to help another person or to show kindness, don’t ponder about it – just do it.
One thing we know: all our actions do impact others and we can effect a positive change to make the world a better place to live in.
Side Note: The event was hosted by Freda Liu, who has been an advocate for World Vision for many years. I’ve often heard her voice on the radio ages ago, and I was so thrilled to meet her in real life. She is so lovely!!!