Chickens and Charities Saturday September 18, 2010

One of the things that I have found most rewarding about having this whacky lifestyle is getting involved in local charities. There is always some good cause or another to support and over the years I have been on the committees of many fundraising groups.

Around the world, there are different levels of need and as you would expect, the poorer the country the more basic the need. In the Philippines, like most other third world countries, there is very little in the way of social support paid for by the government. In many ways, this has fostered a spirit of greater community understanding because if there is no help from family and community, sufferers are left to their own devices and will simply “go under”. Seeing communities come together in the face of adversity is a lesson to us all.

Conversely, in very developed countries, the state takes on all rolls of support to the point where families almost have the choice as to whether or not to abdicate responsibility for supporting family and community. Now that the developed world is facing burgeoning government debt, a lot of these services are being cut, so people are wondering how on earth they are going to cope with having to take on more responsibility for themselves. With an aging population, growing demand for health and personal care one wonders how much we are going to have to rebalance the support of the state with greater personal and community involvement.

I have seen firsthand the struggles of helpless people in developing countries, and by contrast, the wealth of the benefactors in the United States, pouring money into the arts. Where would the Guggenheim or the Metropolitan museum be with its benefactors? There is a place for both, of that I am in no doubt, but where physically handicapped patients have been chained to beds to stop them falling out, because there is no money for secure cots, it is truly an eye opener and I know where I would rather direct my efforts.

Here in Brazil, there is no shortage of need. There are a lot of very good local charities and no shortage of willing volunteers. Volunteering can take the form of hands on involvement day to day, or to organize and support fund raising activities. There is a place for everyone to apply their talents.

On Saturday I am going to the St Andrew's Ball where we all get to dance Scottish dances, listen to bagpipes and generally have a good time. The following weekend, the British Consul is offering to open his home and, with his wife, hold an evening of Jazz in order to raise money for a children’s charity. It is a great way for us to give back to the communities in which we live, whilst at the same time getting together with friends and dragging our husbands out for a pleasant evening - albeit in the name of charity.

One charity that caught my eye to support is a very simple idea of providing chickens for a local community in the north east of Brazil. 100 chickens plus feed will provide food for the community and once up and running will be self sustaining. What a great idea, based on the premise that if you give a man a meal, he is fed for a day, but teach him to fish and he will never be hungry again.

Each chicken is US$ 7.50 - a very small amount to us westerners but a huge sum for people living on less than US$ 2.00 per day.

I look around Sao Paulo and see the Favelas very close to my neighbourhood. Where I live, there is an oasis of calm, houses hidden by high fences, security cameras and guards. What must the people in the Favelas think when they see the opulence of our lifestyles in comparison to theirs.

I have no idea, but I give thanks and remind my children often that we are so lucky not to be in that position. The things we take totally for granted, primary needs such as shelter, health, hot water and comfort are beyond the greatest expectations for millions of people living beside us.

So I am happy to get involved, give back and do my bit. One chicken at a time.