Investing in a Social CauseHave you heard this song before?
“Reach out and touch
“Reach out and touch
somebody’s hands and make this word a better place
if you can.”
- Diana Ross
Investing in a Social Cause is for all those people who feel they want to contribute to making a difference in someone’s life or community or environment, for those who wish to see a smile on a face that has been deprived of a smile, to reach out to the vulnerable….maybe a child, a parent, a family, a community or a society in need or may be even nature. But unless someone like you cares, nothing is ever going to change. It’s about shared responsibility in bringing about positive changes instead of putting the load on someone else’s back to bring about that change.
Have these questions ever crossed your mind?
I have a large network of friends, well wishers, associates and colleagues and each of them at some point or the other have said-
“I have a great job, fantastic family, a comfortable life but I wish I could do something for someone in need and really make a difference in his/her life. I just don’t know how to go about it.”
Others have said, “How can I contribute? What can I do? How can I use my knowledge or skills or resources to make a difference? Will it actually make a difference??”
There are yet others who show anger and say- “Why isn’t anybody doing anything?”
Friends, it’s easy to complain and put blame, however “have you/I tried doing anything?” is what should be asked.
I work in a sector called the Development Sector, which is these days referred to as the Third Sector. The Third Sector deals with issues relating to socio-economic and environmental causes. India has a numerous International Donors working on country programmes, the Government has its own funds/schemes, however the canvas of issues and challenges are so deep and so wide the more you paint the more it absorbs the colours and yet is an incomplete picture. India, with a population touching over a two billion people has 72.2% of its population living in rural areas. 26.1% of India’s population lives on less than one dollar a day (Asian Development Bank , 2004 Country Strategy Programme Update, 2005-2007, India, Asian Development Bank CSP: Ind 2004-16). Poverty is an alarming reality.
But apart from poverty and its impact on a child, an individual, a family a community or society as a whole there are other issues that make us wonder about what’s happening to this world- issues relating to child abuse, domestic violence, climate change, terrorism and others that cut across all socio-economic classes or strata of our nation. These could be happening in our very own homes, our neighborhood, our community/ state and so on. Should we have educated citizens and “netizens” just close our eyes and run away from it all? Leaving the good changes to happen to International donors and the Government is not a solution by itself.
So let’s take a look at what the mantra for bringing about change is all about:
We can’t change the world, but maybe we can change ourselves and maybe we can make a difference in the lives of few people beyond our own self.
Lets give light so that people will find their own way…Let’s empower…..Lets enable others and make a difference.
Let’s make life beautiful for someone, let’s make life beautiful for the coming generations.
Let’s live to love not just ourselves but even those who we do not know.
If we cannot make things better for those who are around us or are in need or are vulnerable, let’s not make things worse for them.
A line that influenced me a lot when I was a teenager is a statement made by:
Dr. Swami Arupananda, Ph.D., D.Sc., the Chairman of Arupa Mission Research Foundation and institution I have been associated with for the past 15 years –
“Humanity is our Religion. And knowledge with love and devotion is our path. It doesn’t cost much to be Humane.”
Friends let’s invest in being humane and in humanity.
So how can you or I invest in a Social Cause? How can you or I invest in Humanity?
Develop a empathy for a particular issue / cause
Advocate for the issue /cause
Be the tool of change
Let’s look at these three points a little more deeply:
Developing Empathy for a particular issue / cause is all about identifying that or those issues that have touched your heart deeply, that have moved you to feel to want to do something or resolve the issue. Read about it, talk about it, and share your views on it. Don’t sympathise, but put yourself in that person’s place and feel the emotions, the pain, and the agony. The deprived and vulnerable, the abused do not want your sympathies for what is happening in their lives. What they need is our understanding, some light from us so that they can use the light that you show to build their path and come out of gloom.
Advocating for the issue or cause is about spreading awareness on the issue that has touched your heart and talking about solutions, precautions, legal aid. To advocate lets build our knowledge on those issues and then talk to our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and others, even those who are the deprived and suffering.
Being the Tool is all about sharing your
time
- Diana Ross
Investing in a Social Cause is for all those people who feel they want to contribute to making a difference in someone’s life or community or environment, for those who wish to see a smile on a face that has been deprived of a smile, to reach out to the vulnerable….maybe a child, a parent, a family, a community or a society in need or may be even nature. But unless someone like you cares, nothing is ever going to change. It’s about shared responsibility in bringing about positive changes instead of putting the load on someone else’s back to bring about that change.
Have these questions ever crossed your mind?
I have a large network of friends, well wishers, associates and colleagues and each of them at some point or the other have said-
“I have a great job, fantastic family, a comfortable life but I wish I could do something for someone in need and really make a difference in his/her life. I just don’t know how to go about it.”
Others have said, “How can I contribute? What can I do? How can I use my knowledge or skills or resources to make a difference? Will it actually make a difference??”
There are yet others who show anger and say- “Why isn’t anybody doing anything?”
Friends, it’s easy to complain and put blame, however “have you/I tried doing anything?” is what should be asked.
I work in a sector called the Development Sector, which is these days referred to as the Third Sector. The Third Sector deals with issues relating to socio-economic and environmental causes. India has a numerous International Donors working on country programmes, the Government has its own funds/schemes, however the canvas of issues and challenges are so deep and so wide the more you paint the more it absorbs the colours and yet is an incomplete picture. India, with a population touching over a two billion people has 72.2% of its population living in rural areas. 26.1% of India’s population lives on less than one dollar a day (Asian Development Bank , 2004 Country Strategy Programme Update, 2005-2007, India, Asian Development Bank CSP: Ind 2004-16). Poverty is an alarming reality.
But apart from poverty and its impact on a child, an individual, a family a community or society as a whole there are other issues that make us wonder about what’s happening to this world- issues relating to child abuse, domestic violence, climate change, terrorism and others that cut across all socio-economic classes or strata of our nation. These could be happening in our very own homes, our neighborhood, our community/ state and so on. Should we have educated citizens and “netizens” just close our eyes and run away from it all? Leaving the good changes to happen to International donors and the Government is not a solution by itself.
So let’s take a look at what the mantra for bringing about change is all about:
We can’t change the world, but maybe we can change ourselves and maybe we can make a difference in the lives of few people beyond our own self.
Lets give light so that people will find their own way…Let’s empower…..Lets enable others and make a difference.
Let’s make life beautiful for someone, let’s make life beautiful for the coming generations.
Let’s live to love not just ourselves but even those who we do not know.
If we cannot make things better for those who are around us or are in need or are vulnerable, let’s not make things worse for them.
A line that influenced me a lot when I was a teenager is a statement made by:
Dr. Swami Arupananda, Ph.D., D.Sc., the Chairman of Arupa Mission Research Foundation and institution I have been associated with for the past 15 years –
“Humanity is our Religion. And knowledge with love and devotion is our path. It doesn’t cost much to be Humane.”
Friends let’s invest in being humane and in humanity.
So how can you or I invest in a Social Cause? How can you or I invest in Humanity?
Develop a empathy for a particular issue / cause
Advocate for the issue /cause
Be the tool of change
Let’s look at these three points a little more deeply:
Developing Empathy for a particular issue / cause is all about identifying that or those issues that have touched your heart deeply, that have moved you to feel to want to do something or resolve the issue. Read about it, talk about it, and share your views on it. Don’t sympathise, but put yourself in that person’s place and feel the emotions, the pain, and the agony. The deprived and vulnerable, the abused do not want your sympathies for what is happening in their lives. What they need is our understanding, some light from us so that they can use the light that you show to build their path and come out of gloom.
Advocating for the issue or cause is about spreading awareness on the issue that has touched your heart and talking about solutions, precautions, legal aid. To advocate lets build our knowledge on those issues and then talk to our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and others, even those who are the deprived and suffering.
Being the Tool is all about sharing your
time
knowledge
skills
resources
These will help in resolving if not the entire issue but even a part of it with generosity. Practicing generosity makes the heart grow stronger. Ask yourself- “What are you feeling in your heart while your hands are giving?
For example,
If you are an MBA you can share your knowledge and skills in the organisation development of Non Government Organisations and community Based Organisations. You can assist in marketing and branding. You can help community level institutions such as Self Help Groups, water Users Associations, farmer Interest Groups, the Anganwadis and others in developing managerial skills.
If you are into software, help in developing a website for institutions who do not have the knowledge or skill to do so, assist them with databases and analysis.
If you do not have the time to share your knowledge or skills, share your financial resources. No not the entire amount. No not half of it… maybe just 1% of it or any amount you are comfortable with and wish to.
You could even buy products from institutions that are associated with various social development causes and in return help the institution spend money on social development programmes.
There’s lots more you can do…….
What will you or I gain from Investing in a Social Cause or being humane?
The contentment of having stood by a social cause/ issue effectively
The contentment of having brought about change ins someone’s life for the better
An opportunity to share your skills and knowledge
An opportunity to be responsible person in bringing about positive changes
If you are donating then, exemption from IT under the section 80 G
A product bought by you will help in supporting a programme for the vulnerable and deprived.
Audrey Hepburn the famous Actor once said,
“You will discover that you have two hands. One is for your self and the other is for helping others.”
skills
resources
These will help in resolving if not the entire issue but even a part of it with generosity. Practicing generosity makes the heart grow stronger. Ask yourself- “What are you feeling in your heart while your hands are giving?
For example,
If you are an MBA you can share your knowledge and skills in the organisation development of Non Government Organisations and community Based Organisations. You can assist in marketing and branding. You can help community level institutions such as Self Help Groups, water Users Associations, farmer Interest Groups, the Anganwadis and others in developing managerial skills.
If you are into software, help in developing a website for institutions who do not have the knowledge or skill to do so, assist them with databases and analysis.
If you do not have the time to share your knowledge or skills, share your financial resources. No not the entire amount. No not half of it… maybe just 1% of it or any amount you are comfortable with and wish to.
You could even buy products from institutions that are associated with various social development causes and in return help the institution spend money on social development programmes.
There’s lots more you can do…….
What will you or I gain from Investing in a Social Cause or being humane?
The contentment of having stood by a social cause/ issue effectively
The contentment of having brought about change ins someone’s life for the better
An opportunity to share your skills and knowledge
An opportunity to be responsible person in bringing about positive changes
If you are donating then, exemption from IT under the section 80 G
A product bought by you will help in supporting a programme for the vulnerable and deprived.
Audrey Hepburn the famous Actor once said,
“You will discover that you have two hands. One is for your self and the other is for helping others.”
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