Where we are born is an accident of life. Hence, I feel very blessed that I was born into a family that had the ability to get out of a poor situation (Rangoon, Burma) and born with a healthy body and decent brain functions. I have felt guilt for portions of my life about the fact that so many people have so little and I have so much. But we must do more than throw money at the problem of inequality – it has to be done with behavioral changes and with great heart. One organization that has had great success in breaking the poverty-high fertility cycle is Grupo Primavera, a Brazilian Charity that began by taking poor young girls in (in the spring of their lives as primavera means spring), feeding them, and educating them with skills they can use to become independent women. Organizations like Grupo Primavera breaks the cycle of poverty-and-population increases by empowering women with better lives, and enabling women to have smaller, more stable families they can take care of. One of the American women who were involved with Grupo Primavera, Judy, came back to the U.S. and began Educating Latin American Adolescents, Inc. (http://educatinglatinamerica.org/default.aspx) in order to continue to support such a great organization as Grupo Primavera. The creation of Educating Latin American Adolescents allowed Judy to sell the crafts (such as dolls and cross-stitched cards) that the girls make and send the money back to empower the girls to achieve more.
I met Judy at a craft store about seven years ago, and supported Grupo Primavera by buying their great cards and dolls the girls make, and then when I had enough cards and dolls as presents after several years, we discussed other options, and settled on the most effective method of contribution as money. One of the ways we contributed money was to write a check for each of our two children’s birthdays to this wonderful organization, and ask others to contribute in lieu of a present. We have had four birthday parties for our girls, asking that people contribute to Educating Latin America Adolescents, Inc./Grupo Primavera in place of presents. I had hoped that others would want to do the same after learning about such great organizations (there are other worthy organizations as well). A few parents have commented how wonderful an idea it is, but I have yet to see birthday parties as fundraisers for charities catch on.
It seems to me that a sense of something larger than ourselves must be part of solutions that begets solutions. This is just one idea on how to be part of a larger whole.
The pictures above are those of the slums of Brazil and of my youngest daughter’s birthday party used to raise money for the children who live in such slums.
