I was 19.
It was summer.
I was sitting on the floor with my back to the couch - my laptop on my lap.... Google was waiting for me to type. (cursor blinking...cursor blinking....cursor blinking....)
I had decided it was time for me to take action — to make my contribution towards world peace.
I wanted to help a charity.
I wanted to commit myself to a cause.
But which one? There were thousands!
Whatever it was....I had to be really passionate about it or I would lose motivation.
Just giving money wouldn't be enough — I wanted to get my hands dirty and feel compelled to shout from the rooftops.
I thought and thought and though... tick tock tick tock tick tock....
I could only be passionate about something that I could intimately relate to.
I can only relate to something that I am. What am I?
Lots of things but the first word that came to mind was....
Woman.
I am a woman. I wanted to help other women.
I loved the idea of sisterhood, feminine strength & beauty, and women helping other women. I wrote essay after essay about all things related to femininity during university — now it all seemed so obvious.
So that's what I Googled.... "WOMEN helping WOMEN"
No surprise when the #1 search result was....
Five years later I've sponsored multiple women in the DRC, Bosnia, Kosovo & Nigeria. I started a Women for Women club at university and as a result multiple women were inspired to start sponsoring too! Last year, I even figured out a way I use my photography to help (more on that exciting adventure coming soon!)
So today, as I sit at the dining room table — beautiful Washington rain pouring down onto the deck outside, I'm so excited to start learning about my brand new sponsor sister! The introduction email arrived today! Her name is Cordelia and she lives in Nigeria. This afternoon I think I'll make a cup of tea and write her a letter :)
(Ouuu... thunder just rumbled across the valley :))
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You are awesome!