Andrew Forrest is a West Australian mining magnate who grew up in the bush. He was mentored by a Indigenous stockman and values their culture and wisdom. As a result in 2010 the Australian Employment Covenant (AEC) was formed. Www.fiftythousandjobs.com.au is an initiative aimed at securing 50,000 sustainable jobs for Indigenous Australians. It works along side Generation One to end disparity between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians in one generation. Www.GenerationOne.org.au Andrew Forrest is making a difference.
My friend Shivanii Cameron is not a magnate, mining or otherwise. A documentary maker and teacher, she operates on a shoestring budget. Yet I consider her one of the richest women I know. About the same time as Andrew Forrest formed AEC, Shivani said “Yes” to starting an orphanage for 7 “Untouchable” children in India. Months later there is an orphanage, a school for 300 and teachers, a microfinance system for farmers wishing to buy seed to grow organic food and a village pump. That was the last time I checked. Like Andrew Forrest, Shivanii saw a weakness and looked for a solution.
Shivanii let her network of friends know she was helping to set up an orphanage and it snowballed from there. The fundraising efforts in and around the Sunshine Coast hinterland community of Maleny have put the fun into fundraising for the Prabhat Alloi Foundation. Check the latest on http://prabhatalloi.blogspot.com
Bicycles for Humanity is another great story of what can be achieved. For poverty stricken AIDS workers in Africa a bicycle can make a huge difference. And there are so many unused bicycles in wealthy countries around the world. Someone somewhere made the connection. Check out www.bicycles-for-humanity.org It is also another example of, “Just begin and the ways will open up.”
And then there is my sister-in-law Beth, who read about a Brisbane grandmother, mother and daughter who were homeless. They found assistance through 139 Club in Fortitude Valley. Beth visited the welfare centre for the homeless and learnt what they needed most were winter slippers and pyjamas for children. She emailed her friends who contributed enough to cover both winter and summer needs for the children catered to by 139 Club.
There are so many good power of one stories out there. I just wanted to share these that are particularly close to my heart right now.
Barbara Carseldine
watertools@gmail.com
www.knowingwater.com
10th November 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
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