February 28, 2010
This is a quasi-followup to my previous post, Meet Richard Ssempijja.
This past summer when I started supporting Richard was a time when my concept of charity, generosity, philanthropy, social justice, and a personal responsibility for the well-being of the world as a whole began to shift. Though Richard was a part of it, there were countless relationships, conversations, articles and books that contributed (plus a little boy named Christian).
Whatever the reasons, my view of philanthropy is staggeringly different than it was a year ago. And that shift has affected how I think of nearly every facet of life in one way or another.
To put it simply, I started caring.
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Posted in Personal | Charity | Compassion | Compassion International | Giving | Love | Philanthropy | Politik | Responsibility | Richard Ssempijja
February 22, 2010
I would like for you to get acquainted Richard Ssempijja. Richard lives in eastern Africa, and he just turned 6 last month. He lives in a hut with his parents and siblings, and just started going to school. He likes playing soccer with his friends, and is fascinated by cars.
And, though I have never met him, he’s completely changed my world.
I became Richard’s sponsor through Compassion International in July 2009, thanks to encouragement from Daniel Bryant. And though the monthly cost to support Richard is less than almost every other “bill” I have, it’s more than three times as much as his parents are collectively able to make in a month doing occasional farming jobs.
What my support of Richard represents is the first major contribution that I’ve made that I have a true personal connection with. I’ve given to various charities before for various reasons, but none of them have had nearly the satisfaction or impact within me as Richard has. I’m specifically helping Richard; not Compassion as an organization. My support isn’t being spread out over all of the countless children that Compassion supports. No, I am helping Richard Ssempijja grow into the man he is going to be.
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Posted in Personal | Charity | Compassion | Compassion International | Dan Bryant | Philanthropy | Poverty
