5 Things I Learned From Doing Charity

Some of you may not know but I am a charitable person. What I mean with this is I often perform good deeds within my means. I can't say I am a philanthropist but I wish to become one in the future. Perhaps through family influence or an inborn nature, I have this strong compassion to help make the world a better place. And I believe what I can do is to give and share what I have with the less fortunate. 

At one point of my life, I had this gigantic dream to be the founder of a huge humanitarian association, maybe something like World Vision (I always use this as example because I like their concept and system, except Famine 30 lol). But I know this is a dream not easily achievable. So I decided to take one step at a time because every single human being is capable of giving/sharing. Charity isn't only available in monetary form but also in labour, words, items etc. 

My sponsor child in Vietnam, currently 16 years old already (sponsoring her since she's 9)

Today I am sharing my experience with you guys on what I've learned through the years of doing a small scale charity. I started way back in 2004 when I was still a Form 4 student in SMK Convent, Klang. I still am a student and donating and helping the less fortunate has become a habit for me. Currently, I am a sponsor of a child in Vietnam via World Vision (monthly donation of RM65) and I visit/donate to old folks home, hospices, orphanages, handicapped homes, etc. on a regular basis. 

1. I learned to see how fortunate I am 

Like everyone else, I had times when I whined about what I was deprived of (or so I thought). I didn't have a silver spoon and I couldn't possibly possess some of the things my friends had due to my parents' unaffordability. But no, I didn't lack any of the necessities I needed. My parents provided me with a comfortable shade I called home, a perfect source of education (along with tuition and tonnes of books), nutritious food and a conducive environment to grow up in. But humans are greedy so I didn't realize how lucky I was until ...

My aunt brought to the handicapped centre (Pusat Kanak-kanak Cacat) in Port Klang. I saw how some of the kids there were Down Syndrome and all their lives, they had to be bedridden. They couldn't speak, sit or express themselves. There were others who were blind and those who had the ability to walk around and socialize, were retarded. Most of them were abandoned there by their parents. 

And I went home digesting the flashes of images in my mind. Some time after that, the realization hit me that I have been very very fortunate all this while. Slowly, I found myself complaining lesser and lesser (cannot totally wipe this off though, it's human nature to complain, haha!). I have learned not to pinpoint what I lack but to cherish what I have. 

2. I learned how a small effort is capable of making a huge difference to a person

I can't recall how I got to know World Vision but I just did. I stumbled upon their Child Sponsorship programme and I thought it was really cool. I pay RM50 (back then it was RM50) and someone else in another country would receive it. Little that I know that World Vision doesn't hand the money directly to them but accumulate them all together to assist them in ways that they need. 

I pondered to myself if I could afford to pay RM50 a month, equalling to RM600 a year! But then I thought, well, I could cut down on my expenses. So without hesitating, I signed myself up as a sponsor and until today, I have been religiously paying the monthly stipend to my "child" in Vietnam. 

Every year, World Vision will send me a progress report and every other month or so I will receive a letter from my "child" telling me about her life or drawing me something cute. I see how she has grown from a young little girl to a teenager now. And from a small town with almost nothing (no water, electricity and telephone line), World Vision has helped to bring in fundamental resources as well as build hospital, school, etc. 

It feels really magical how someone who is completely unknown to me, speaks a totally different language, lives some 1404 miles away, has a bond with me. And I feel exceptionally great that my meagre amount of RM50 (or 65) has shed so much light in the life of this young girl. 

3. I learned that karma isn't a bitch

People say when you do something good, it will return to you. As the Chinese saying goes, 好心有好报. I didn't quite believe this because I thought life is all up to you to conquer and control. My belief changed after I began performing good deeds. 

I can't say I have physically or literally seen how my they returned to me but I can somehow feel it. I still encounter problems, get involved in troubles, battle with obstacles but I can feel how something with profound power has been helping me to overcome all these. 

It doesn't return in a direct or immediate manner but rather, with time and patience, you'd be able to see or feel it. The only thing you need to have is faith. 

4. I have become less religionist 

I learned that religion is a faith you hold onto as a guide in life but a religionist does not necessarily have a good heart. We've seen this in movies (Hong Kong ones especially) how gangsters, loan sharks or people of the black market prays enthusiastically to "God". And in reality, I've seen and met such people too. 

They go completely hoo-ha about their religion and how it is the best in the world and yet they're doing bad things behind their religion. Some say their religion forbid them in eating certain things but they end up not walking what they talk. 

I have come to believe that religion doesn't determine a person's morale. It is an individual thing. ALL religions in the world are good; there is NO religion that teaches doing evil stuffs. But I truly despise those who misuse their religion or not doing what they preach. 

5. I learned the true value of money

My monthly commitment of the child sponsorship programme as well as occasionally visits and donations will definitely take its toll on my finance. My part time job does not generate a wealthy pool of money and every cent is earned through hard work. Therefore, I learned to prioritise and weigh the importance of certain things over the others. 

I spend very minimally on shopping. I do not have a monthly habit of buying clothes, bags or shoes. I do not club or splurge on alcohol. I do not spend on unnecessary items. But I am generous to spend on food, travel and my parents. 

I hope all of you will benefit from this writing of mine. 

Thank you for reading!