Hannah reflects on Christian Aid Week and the ways we can all add value to a world in poverty.
I find myself reflecting on this year’s Christian Aid week theme of helping people ‘push back against poverty’ and how, whatever our beliefs, we can all play a part in this. Hearing about Aline from Burundi (where 70% of the population struggle to make ends meet), thrust into poverty and homelessness after fleeing an abusive relationship, really got me thinking. Christian Aid supported Aline through training and a loan to start her own business. As a consultant, I often think about the difference between ‘giving someone a fish’ and ‘teaching them to fish’ and as a coach, about the huge impact it can have to feel that someone credits us with the capability to achieve our goals!
Years ago, when I was working for a non-profit organisation, a man who worked in the same building stepped into our offices and shared his personal story of falling below the breadline. He was open with my team, telling us how his financial situation had been impacted by bereavement and he’d had to resort to asking his employer for an advance on his wages and visiting the food bank. In spite of his personal situation, he told us he was still giving to our charity. He was selfless in spite of his own pressing needs, as well as actively supporting other less fortunate people in the community. I thought long and hard about what to do, as although I didn’t know him personally, I couldn’t turn my back on him, particularly as he had been so vulnerable in sharing his story with us, but equally, I didn’t want to over-step. I weighed up the potential for offence with the harm of doing nothing and decided to take a risk, as he’d been frank enough to admit that he was already resorting to loans and charity. Rallying my colleagues, I rounded up as much as I could in terms of dry goods and products that would last, and delivered it anonymously, with a card expressing gratitude for all he’d done for the community, contextualising the parcel as a thank you gift. I still hope that I did the right thing; that the helping hand to tide him over a difficult period achieved that and was more valuable than any embarrassment. But more than that I hope the message behind the gift, that he was valued and appreciated, that someone else saw and believed in him, registered and outlasted the food.
One of my favourite things about Christian Aid is that their help is so practical and really aligns with our beliefs at Rambutan about the importance of living our values. Take a look at our behavioural model, ‘Why people do what they do’ and my colleague Craig’s blog about whether your vision is lived or laminated. Whatever your goals may be, how do these translate to the everyday? Check out Change the World for a Fiver for ideas about small things you can do to improve the world we live in, one small action at a time. We often hear phrases like ‘you are what you eat’ and ‘it’s our actions that speak volumes about who we really are’. Think about your ‘to do list’ for today and what it’ll say about you. Stephen Covey championed the idea of ‘starting with the end in mind’ and the legacy we want to leave, and as Emily Dickinson famously said, “Forever is composed of nows.”
Aline’s story reminds me of Terari Trent, whose story and journey out of poverty are an inspiration to me. Check out her TED Talk and drop me a line for a natter – I look forward to hearing how you’ve been inspired.