$10,000 for Change!
Donation protected
In the last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside people in my local community and also internationally.
Through TELUS Day of Giving, I volunteered at the Kettle Friendship Society where I had the chance to speak with clients of the facility and got a glance at what it’s like to live with mental illness. My task that day was to paint bird houses with clients and I had made a comment "These holes to the houses are too small. Birds aren't going to fit!". A gentleman sitting across from me responded and said "Well then the bugs will live in it. Everyone needs a home". It made me think about just how many people are out there without a roof over their heads or doors and windows to keep the cold out. Also, how many of us have a very skewed perspective of what homelessness or mental illness is?
Last May, I made a trip down to Ecuador where I worked with a few other like minded individuals to start building the foundations of what would be a brand new classroom for a school in the Amazon. I brought back with me a wealth of knowledge, experience & excitement but also bit of anger, frustration and helplessness. I had seen communities living alongside a dirty river and though seemingly content with their everyday lives, could use some support. I watched little kids drink out of these rivers without a slight bit of concern. I thought, what if those were my kids? I got to fetch water from that same river and felt how much work it was just to be able to get enough to support the farm, clean themselves and also be able to have enough drinking water. With the river constantly becoming more and more polluted, the peoples of the Amazon can no longer safely drink the water without making sure that proper filtration is done first. There were many stories and moments I could speak of but these stood out most to me.
I was thrilled upon my return to begin my journey towards making change, starting with myself. I spent days and nights thinking about all the things I would need to do to truly make change. The items on my list went on and on and on. One thing linked to another and by the end of it, I just felt a sense of helplessness.
In December, I received a letter I had written to myself as part of an exercise we did during my time in the jungle. I had written my note in the form of a reminder of all that I had seen and heard while on my trip and it arrived at a perfect time and provided me enough to get me back on my feet. So here I am, big goal of the year. Are you ready?
This year, one of my goals is to raise $10,000 for my community locally as well as internationally. I have decided that $5000 will be donated to the Kettle Friendship Society and the other $5000 to Free the Children. With this money, Kettle is able to host New Years dinner for 400 clients as well as their families. Free the Children will be able to start and complete a water project for a school in the Amazon.
It’s a hefty one, but I have faith! Thanks so much for taking the time to support my cause!
Through TELUS Day of Giving, I volunteered at the Kettle Friendship Society where I had the chance to speak with clients of the facility and got a glance at what it’s like to live with mental illness. My task that day was to paint bird houses with clients and I had made a comment "These holes to the houses are too small. Birds aren't going to fit!". A gentleman sitting across from me responded and said "Well then the bugs will live in it. Everyone needs a home". It made me think about just how many people are out there without a roof over their heads or doors and windows to keep the cold out. Also, how many of us have a very skewed perspective of what homelessness or mental illness is?
Last May, I made a trip down to Ecuador where I worked with a few other like minded individuals to start building the foundations of what would be a brand new classroom for a school in the Amazon. I brought back with me a wealth of knowledge, experience & excitement but also bit of anger, frustration and helplessness. I had seen communities living alongside a dirty river and though seemingly content with their everyday lives, could use some support. I watched little kids drink out of these rivers without a slight bit of concern. I thought, what if those were my kids? I got to fetch water from that same river and felt how much work it was just to be able to get enough to support the farm, clean themselves and also be able to have enough drinking water. With the river constantly becoming more and more polluted, the peoples of the Amazon can no longer safely drink the water without making sure that proper filtration is done first. There were many stories and moments I could speak of but these stood out most to me.
I was thrilled upon my return to begin my journey towards making change, starting with myself. I spent days and nights thinking about all the things I would need to do to truly make change. The items on my list went on and on and on. One thing linked to another and by the end of it, I just felt a sense of helplessness.
In December, I received a letter I had written to myself as part of an exercise we did during my time in the jungle. I had written my note in the form of a reminder of all that I had seen and heard while on my trip and it arrived at a perfect time and provided me enough to get me back on my feet. So here I am, big goal of the year. Are you ready?
This year, one of my goals is to raise $10,000 for my community locally as well as internationally. I have decided that $5000 will be donated to the Kettle Friendship Society and the other $5000 to Free the Children. With this money, Kettle is able to host New Years dinner for 400 clients as well as their families. Free the Children will be able to start and complete a water project for a school in the Amazon.
It’s a hefty one, but I have faith! Thanks so much for taking the time to support my cause!
Organizer
Jamie Poh
Organizer
Burnaby, BC
