Q&A: What’s a Quiet Cause I Wish More People Cared About?

Every month, I publish an answer to a reader’s question. Here’s a transcript of my answer to this month’s thoughtful reader’s question about overlooked philanthropic causes.

Hey Lisanne, is there a cause you care deeply about that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Thank you for reaching out. When I think about causes that often go unnoticed, one  stands out to me: the world our children are growing up in today. Many of the challenges they face are deeply important, even if they don’t always attract the most attention.

Meanwhile, my feed—probably like yours—can be a mix of funny memes, trending dance videos, and news about who wore what at the Met Gala. Also, millions tune in when a pop star changes her hair color, or when the new iPhone gets leaked two weeks early. And to be clear: I love that side of the internet too. I enjoy entertainment and escape a lot, but it also makes me think—if we can give that kind of attention to a dress or a gadget, why do stories that really matter, especially about children, so often go unnoticed?

I actually think a lot about the world children are growing up in today. So many young boys and girls are constantly surrounded by social media—and with it the pressures that are hard to escape. And this steady stream of content that celebrates instant results and polished perfection, is reshaping childhood in ways we’re only beginning to understand. Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation explores how these shifts affect mental health, and his work helps us see both the challenges and possible paths forward.

At the same time, I also find myself thinking about children growing up a bit further from my own world. Their challenges may look entirely different, but they are just as real—and just as urgent. In some parts of the world, for example, children and pregnant women still face diseases like malaria and diarrhea. These are critical realities, especially when you realize that these diseases are largely preventable. We have the vaccines, and the knowledge to eradicate these tragedies if we want to. Yet every year, malaria claims around 400,000 young lives, and half a million children under five die from infections linked to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation.

What strikes me most is not only how preventable these diseases are—think about it, access to a proper toilet!—but also how rarely we hear these stories. Unlike global crises that capture headlines, these persistent, silent emergencies don’t trend on social media or dominate the news cycle. They quietly shape and limit the futures of millions of children, many without the safety nets I was fortunate to have growing up.

To me, it’s hard to imagine waking up not knowing where your next meal will come from, or if you’ll be able to go to the bathroom safely. For those of us raised with stability, it’s almost impossible to fully grasp a reality like that.

So no matter the cause, it’s almost always children, who are prone to these circumstances and lack the agency to make their own decisions. And yet, millions of children live with these uncertainties every single day.

This is why these causes matter so deeply to me. At the Swart Foundation, we strive to shine a light on these invisible challenges—the barriers that too often go unnoticed but have real, devastating consequences. We focus on telling stories about both the problems and the innovative solutions being developed by people on the front lines.

Through my writing and work, I want to help change the narrative—to bring attention to these quiet emergencies and the children whose lives depend on it. I hope to learn more—and share more—about what’s possible when we prioritize the well-being of all children.

How about you? What’s a cause that you hold close to your heart—one that doesn’t always make the headlines, but should? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

• • •

» Explore more answers to readers’ questions