“Maturity comes as the outcome of a long train of events and accomplishments”. I read the quote on the internet one time and it has stayed in my mind ever since. Sometimes it can be difficult to spend our time on anything other than our personal goals and needs. Yet, I decided to challenge myself to devote some of my time towards improving people’s lives, and hope to inspire others to do the same. There are tremendous opportunities around the world where we can lend a helping hand, but at times we overlook the opportunities that are available here in our own backyard. Having been involved in Habitat for Humanity, I was given a chance to promote dignity and hope, demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ, and to support sustainable and transformational …show more content…
This was my first experience as a volunteer and I had little idea of what was in store. I was deceived by our first night, spent along the translucent Bali Sea. The following morning presented an entirely different reality, and it began at the unthinkable hour of five o’clock.
As my group traveled to the job site, I observed a town of many contrasts. Near the beach, the town was bustling with tourists and vacationers. At the heart of the Munduk Village, I saw a town of hopelessness and despair, one of stagnant living and frozen progress. For people accustomed to comfortable living conditions, it is easy to become satisfied and turn a blind eye to the needs of others, especially when a border separates the two. When I opened my eyes, however, it was a truly heartbreaking sight; there is nothing more tragic than bearing witness to the crushed human spirit.
Over the next two days, my group of 7 worked tirelessly to complete the new house. When I thought my arms would fall off from sifting dirt, I helped stacking the bricks. When I could no longer endure the sun, I moved on to mixing concrete by hand below the shelter
Whether it be mentoring, helping the homeless, giving blood, holding a charity event or helping support those in need. No matter what the type of work you do is, it matters as long as it helps the community become a better place. The act of kindness that you perform today can save a life tomorrow. Every person isn’t born with ethical thoughts, or thoughts at all but they learn them as they grow. For example, if you see your parents or someone that you admire do good things such as giving back, and help people who need it or just doing right by the religion that they follow, then there is a split chance, that you will follow in those same exact footsteps and fill them just as well as you were taught. Not saying you have to go out of your way to give money to help someone pay for groceries and do things for the less fortunate, but put yourself in their shoes. What would life be like from the other side? Could you still have everything you have now? Everybody can’t be financially stable all the time and you never know when the tables could turn and you can be in their place. It doesn 't take much time to make a difference in your community or any community rather. Give what you can and be that change you want to see in others. We have to learn to work together, rather than despising one another or not getting along with each other for no reason logical. “Two minds are greater than one”. If we stop working against each other and start
... to rebuilding the community of `broken survivors' and central to storytelling as a means of surviving the disintegration of culture.
”Families, tribes, dusted out, tractored out. Car-loads, caravans, homeless and hungry; twenty thousand and fifty thousand and a hundred thousand and two hundred thousand. They streamed over the mountains, hungry and restless — restless as ants, scurrying to find work to do — to lift, to push, to pull, to pick, to cut — anything, any burden to bear, for food. The kids are hungry. We got no place to live. Like ants scurrying for work, for food, and most of all for land. “
The Pilgrims found themselves in a harsh new environment. In the middle of winter, they slowly built a settlement at the site of an abandoned Pawtuxet Indian village. Not used to hunting or fishing, they struggled to find food. Many were starving. The future looked bleak.
Homelessness is not something that I could ever imagine completely. I, like everyone else, have a simple idea of what it would be like to be homeless. There is so much more to being homeless than most believe. My exposure to Habitat for Humanity is showing me some about the idea of living in a lower income family. This exposure is an experience that all high school and college students should have.
California currently faces the ominous blessing of the El Nino weather system, which promises to bring desperately needed rains in the form of storms and torrential rains. In preparation for these rains, California also has to address the homeless population, who will be stranded in the rains if adequate shelters are not provided for them. In his article, Sunnyvale: Fast-tracked Emergency Homeless Shelter Set To Open, Eric Kurhi cites expert opinions, utilizes emotional appeal, and employs rhetorical devices such as diction in order to provide information on the new homeless shelter opening in Sunnyvale while discussing the overall problem of homelessness.
Salva endured most of the worst situations, but yet he pushed himself through it all to be able to survive and make it onward with his life. Though Salva lost those close to him such as his uncle or Marial, he moved forward, knowing that they believed that was best for him as well. Now, called a Lost Boy from moving here from Sudan, he can explain the harsh environments, like the heat and camps, that he had to live through and also the new lifestyle he had to become used to. Sometimes the survivor can tell his story better than most others can lay it out to be, because they can explain it in more vivid and colorful detail. Thought forced from their home in such violent manners, Lost Boy’s from the Civil War still survive, and more than 4,000 of them are resettled in America today. Not only can we provide them food and warmth, but a home far away from the danger of their lives being put at a
I am enthusiastic about this section of Discovering Wes Moore because it prompts me that we should all try to make the world a better place. Everyone can contribute something positive to our community. This quote relates to me because this summer I joined trail monitoring in Kennebunk, Maine. I wanted to do community service and give back to my society. When my aunt’s friend, Marie Louise, told me about her job at the Kennebunk Land Trust and all the environmental tasks they do for the town, I jumped to the chance to participate as a trail monitor. I was assigned two trails to clean up and monitor. I kept a log of the number of miles and hours I spent on the trails. I loved helping the environment and making way for others to enjoy nature. In addition, I made another connection to this quote when I give back to my community by raising money for animal shelters. I participate in local food drives. In the summer time, I bike in the Tour de Cure race, which raises money for diabetics. When I was little, I had birthday parties and instead of my friends buying gifts for me I asked if they could give money to Birthday Wishes. Birthday Wishes is an organization that raises money for kids who can’t afford birthday gifts and parties. These actions help to make way for each other and makes the world a kinder and better place to grow up and live your life. All in all, the
Habitat for Humanity’s main goal is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness by constructing and building sufficient and necessary housing that are in good neighborhoods and communities (Fuller 18).
An individual's perception of their environment can be largely affected by their motivation to feel a sense of belonging. Some people are confused as to where they belong or don’t even make an attempt to belong, this can leave people feeling lost or confused. These ideas are nicely displayed in Peter Skrzynecki’s anthology “Immigrant Chronicles” with the use of techniques where he showcases his and others' different attitudes towards trying to get a sense of belonging and the different outcomes. The poem “St. Patrick’s College” conveys the idea that even after extended periods of time, someone can continue to feel foreign due to a lack of understanding about where they are. The poem “Feliks Skrzynecki” conveys the idea that with a drive to feel at home, someone's perspective of their situation can change and people can create their own safe place.
That day began like all the other missionary kid tubing trips down the Davao River in the Philippines, full of anxious anticipation and adventure. I was so excited you can barely sleep the night before. My mom made sure I had everything I needed, worrying like only mothers know how. My friends and I were off from school for Christmas break. The weather was perfect, having rained for almost three days straight. Two days before, while coming back from a dive trip, my friends and I decided we had better take advantage of the heavenly gift of rain. Friday, January 4th, 2002 was the day we began our adventure – an adventure of a life time.
During the [Project Wisdom] program, my principal tells us a quote then he goes on to explain it. For example, he would say, "Danny Thomas once said, 'Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others." This quote hit me like a thunderbolt. I was constantly thinking about it. Then I saw homeless people while I was walking home from school. I thought of nothing but the quote, so as I got closer to the homeless people, I pulled out my wallet and gave them a ten dollar bill. The feeling I got when the homeless people looked at me is indescribable. After this experience, almost every time someone is in need of something, I give or at least try to give them what they need because of the self-content it brings me. The "Words of Wisdom" program made a difference in my life by helping me discover that it feels good to serve others.
The world has many issues. As a Social Worker my goal is to help alleviate some of those issues. But with as many issues as there are I do not have the skill set or time to combat all the issues that I see. Because of this I need to choose an area to focus on and put my effort into that so that my education and training is put to good use. To choose an issue that is most concerning to me I have to look at my community to see where there is a need. When I look at my community I see many people living in poverty. The good thing about my community is that there are many services for those in need. There are several food banks and many other agencies such as No to Abuse, NyE Communities Coalition, and various counseling agencies that provide needed
I recall in vivid detail the scenery around us as we embarked on our perilous journey down the Nantahala. We arrived at the drop-off point in the early afternoon the next day. The sweet smell of fresh pine trees was floating in the air and a soft midsummer breeze was brushing against our faces. After receiving directions and safety precautions from our rafting instructor, we geared up, boarded our raft, and set out for our voyage down the treacherous Nantahala. Sharing the experience with me were my mother, aunt, uncle, and cousin; along with out rafting guide. We were all ready for a fun and safe ride down the Nantahala.
In relation to social transformation I have gathered materials that focusses on programs provided for ‘refugees’ living in New Zealand. The purpose of my findings are based on the societies support for ‘refugees’ in terms of human security and directions of life before settling in their new destination. There are stories about ‘refugees’ that need to be shared and stories that need to be forgotten, because it can produce controversy within the society or the universe. But where can these ‘refugees’ go if the place they call home is unsafe or too risky for the lives of their families and for themselves. It’s hard enough to migrate into a new country, but it is devastating for refugees who have experienced the loss of homes and loved ones.