Sustainable Good

What Motivates You to Give?

Non-profit organizations (like Outreach International) are constantly wondering how to motivate people to donate money to good causes.  In last week's Newsweek,  Professor Peter Singer writes this intriguing (and possibly motivating?)  scenario:

Imagine that you are walking near a shallow ornamental pond when you notice that a small child has fallen in, and is apparently in danger of drowning. You look around for the child's caregiver, but there is no one in sight. Without pausing even to pull off the expensive pair of shoes you are wearing, you rush into the water to save the child."

"You don't have to be a hero to do that. We expect it of you. You'd have to be a monster to put the cost of your shoes ahead of saving the child's life."

"Or would you? "

Rocky Mountain Mission Center Hunger Challenge

I just attended a Hunger Challenge in Ft. Collins, CO, USA.  There were over 60 kids, teens, and adults who fasted for 24 hours, learned about poverty, raised awareness in the community, collected cans, donated money, and brainstormed their own solutions to hunger.  It was an inspiring weekend and I am thankful to Dezi Rae Astle and her crew for raising so much money for Outreach International.  Thanks to all of you!

Malawi Site Visit Video

Seeking to see the impact of sustainable change in rural communities, ten American supporters of Outreach International visited Malawi last week.  They visited Outreach International's program areas, met people in their homes, viewed development projects and engaged in cross-cultural dialogue.

Click on the video above to see a short film about the Site Visit.  Click here to read an article from The Examiner (Independence, MO) about Outreach International's work in Malawi.

Women and the Food Crisis

I recently read an article in the Washington Post about how women have been faring in the midst of the continuing food crisis. Women all over the world have an interesting and ironic relationship with food but no more ironic than women in poverty. In this case women plant and harvest in their gardens, shop in the markets, cook, and pass meals to their husbands and children. When – actually I should say IF the women eat, they eat only the cold scraps that have been left over after everyone else has finished their meals.

Power to the Youth!

If anyone says that young people today don't care, they have never met the youth at Spectacular, a camp of about 1,000 youth and staff held at Graceland University in rural Iowa. These youth and staff heard the calling of our impoverished brothers and sisters all over the world and responded in a BIG way...In just one week, they raised over $11,500 to support a community in Zambia! This community is working hard to build a water system that will provide clean water to its residents. (Read more about community development in Zambia.) The youth at Spectacular realized the need to work with these community members to make this possible. How inspiring!