How does stress not exist when you have nothing?
“Stress in Western society comes from feeling like we need everything.”
Life in Northern Uganda is worlds away from the sunny shore of Cronulla, and common issues faced by the human beings that dwell there will never be completely
understood by beings of more developed countries, like Australia. I asked Cassi for
her most memorable moment on her recent trip, not because it makes a good story,
but because the insight into the lives of others is priceless when attempting to place
value on things in our own lives. This is what she said…
“I was interviewing a couple who had been given seeds from the ‘cents for seeds’
program. I normally don’t get the chance to speak with the husband [of the family],
as the seeds are loaned to the women. This day, I had my moment to ask the husband how he felt the program had assisted his family. He replied with a story about
how they were unable to get married. The couple had 6 children already making the
cost of a dowry or rings a luxury out of their reach. When the crop - from the cents
for seeds program - was harvested he was able to afford these things, and so, with
their 6 children by their sides, they were married.”
Whilst hearing this story I feel the situation faced by those surviving in these areas
laced in a silver lining of hope. It provides us with evidence that change is not only
possible, it is effective in positively changing the lives of others.
What was once just an idea stemmed from concern of
‘what can we do to help’ - the
Love Mercy Foundation is
succeeding in assisting human
beings along a path to sustainability.
A question I ask all compassionate change-makers, like
Cassi; Do you ever feel like the
problem is just too big?
“I find it hard to separate myself from the personal side of
things. There are so many people you want to help, one by
one. The truth is, it is more
beneficial to the people, as a
whole, to place your time and
effort into programs, as opposed to trying to help each
individual on a personal level.”
When Cassi is not in Africa she is soaking up the sun and
enjoying a coffee with friends in Cronulla. The daily makings
of her ‘hometown’ is a far stretch from village life in Northern Uganda. And, although she loves being beach side, I
could tell that Cassi would give up the busy Sydney lifestyle
tomorrow to be amongst the people of Africa and the Love
Mercy projects again.
Cents for seeds is just one program developed by the Love
Mercy Foundation and it is a
perfect example when defining
the “ripple effect” in its greatest form. To fix the problems of
the world all it takes is one
small action, one seed planted,
one drop of water in the ocean.
Where there is action there is
always a reaction … which inevitably leads to change, creating hope in places sometimes
forgotten by the rest of the
world.
-Samantha Jane-