When I first dipped my toes into the world of philanthropy, I quickly realized there was much more to it than I had initially imagined. There are just so many challenges in the world—tackling even a fraction of them in one lifetime almost seemed like an impossible task, and it became clear to me that making a meaningful impact—even in a small area—takes time, effort, and a lot of learning.
I remember attending this seminar about child mortality last year, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by the passion and dedication of the experts, all determined to share solutions and make an impact in a complex area. But I also remember I felt quite overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed, in the first place, because every cause seemed connected to something else, like this huge web of endless causes and effects. Reducing child mortality rates by removing the obstacles that hold kids back feels a lot like trying to untangle a never-ending knot.
Take for example children’s mortality in remote areas—new clinics are built, but poor roads, lack of trained staff, and cultural barriers constantly hinder progress.
Another example is something like inclusive education—a topic that’s close to my heart. Diving into this topic means that you’ll quickly see that for kids to really thrive and reach their full potential, having an inclusive space where they can learn and grow is just one piece of the puzzle.
The reality is that many kids who grow up in unsafe environments—whether from violence at home, lack of basic resources, or neglect—don’t even make it to school. Without a safe place to live, enough food to eat, or emotional support, these kids are often unable to attend school at all, and their chances for education are limited before they even step foot in a classroom.
This makes me wonder, how do we get these kids into school in the first place? And once they’re there, how do we keep them from dropping out?
In other words, if a tiny shift in one area can spark big, sometimes surprising changes elsewhere, where do we even begin? But this chain reaction could go either way—leading to both challenges and powerful, positive outcomes too.
I realised that philanthropy isn’t just about donating to a single cause—it often creates a chain reaction. For example, a donation to an education program might improve access to schooling, which in turn could lead to higher graduation rates, more people entering the workforce, and eventually improving the economy. But those improvements could also influence other sectors, like healthcare (more educated people tend to have better health outcomes), or social justice (education can empower individuals to advocate for themselves and others).
The interconnectedness of philanthropy shows how efforts to address one problem can also contribute to solving many others, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. It’s like touching one string on a web and seeing ripples spread through the whole structure.
It’s also worth noting that some philanthropists intentionally look at the bigger picture, choosing to tackle root causes instead of just symptoms. This approach is about considering how different issues—poverty, education, healthcare, and social inequality—are all related and how addressing one can lead to positive effects across the board.
I quickly learned that to do it thoroughly and well, I better start with a cause that I couldn’t ignore. If I was going to put my heart and soul to this type of work, I wanted to start with a cause close to my heart; children.
I just love kids. I love the way they think, I love the way they move through the world with infectious curiosity. I love how they don’t seem to care about what others think is appropriate or not. Its all too fascinating, and because of that, I was curious to see if I could help remove certain obstacles that hold children back from a meaningful, safe and healthy life, if only a tiny bit.
When I was that age, I had a lot of things going on. They were a bit like first world problems on a microscale. I once cut the hair of my favorite Barbie to give her a different haircut and changed her haircolor from blonde to red by using my vilt stifts. The result was disappointing.
One of the things that honestly surprised me since I got more into this, is how preventable the harmful situations that children find themselves in around the world are. The fact that malaria still exists, that a substantial percentage of children across the world don’t have a proper toilet to use, or that there are still children going to school without having a proper breakfast, is just unfathomable to me.
If philanthropy is about creating ripple effects instead of just fixing one problem, then let’s find the root causes we can’t look away from and do something about them with a single act.
For every book you purchase through my blog, I earn a small commission. From that, I donate 10% to the Malala Fund — just a small, simple act to support girls everywhere in getting the education they deserve.
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