“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love,” said Mother Teresa. Hearing such words from a stranger might seem meaningless. They could easily be dismissed with the well-known proverb, “One swallow doesn’t make a summer.” But uttered by Mother Teresa, they take on immense power.
We all want a better world, one in which poverty, violence, corruption, war, and hatred do not exist. Every person has, at least once in their life, been dissatisfied with the world in which they live. Yet, whilst many are quick to point out what is wrong or what isn’t working, few take the initiative to try to change things.
The life experiences of John Wood and Babar Ali highlight several key points. Both recognised the needs of those around them. They both felt it was their duty to take action to change the situation. Perhaps, without realising from the outset the scale their initiatives would eventually reach, they set out on a path that has changed many people’s lives for the better. Neither gave a thought to the lack of resources or the implications of these efforts for their own lives. In a sea of indifference, people like John Wood and Babar Ali seem rather eccentric and are certainly rare exceptions. However, their example has the power to bring about change, and however idealistic it may sound, it has the power to make the world a better place.
From Microsoft to the developing world
John Wood was a relatively unknown figure who might have considered himself a successful person yet a nobody in a crowd. In 1998, he was the marketing director at Microsoft. However, a trip to Nepal was to change the course of his life. In an obscure Nepalese village, he met a schoolteacher who invited him to visit the local school. He was astonished to discover that the school’s few books were so precious that they were kept under lock and key to protect them from the children. Initially, he asked a few friends to donate some books.
This was the first step in an initiative that would go on to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of children. Encountering the developing world changed John Wood’s outlook on life, motivating him to try to make the world a better place. Through Room to Read, the organisation he founded, he has provided 7,500 libraries and 830 schools for children in poor countries across Asia and Africa. The organisation has also awarded 8,800 long-term scholarships to girls in these countries.
His book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World has become one of the bestsellers of recent years, impressing millions of readers. “Microsoft didn’t need me, but the children in Nepal did,” John Wood confessed humbly. In a review of Wood’s book, Geoffrey Moore stated his belief that in every person’s life, there are only a few decisive moments: moments when you, and you alone, define the person you will become. While a significant part of modern literature is an elegy of regret for failing to recognise such moments or lacking the courage to act on them, John Wood regretted none of them, Moore notes in his review.
The young teacher
Another captivating story that has conquered the world is that of Babar Ali, a 16-year-old from Murshidabad in India.
Coming from a poor family, he is the first member of his family to have had the opportunity to go to school. He loves learning and considers himself lucky, as not many can afford the $40 cost of a year’s schooling. The children in his village, his neighbours’ children, and his playmates cannot afford the luxury of going to school. Their families are poor and they have to work to help their parents. This is where Babar’s impressive story begins.
“The minute his lessons are over at Raj Govinda school, Babar Ali doesn’t stop to play, he heads off to share what he’s learnt with other children from his village. Babar Ali gives lessons just the way he has heard them from his teachers. Some children are seated in the mud, others on rickety benches under a rough, homemade shelter. The family chickens scratch around nearby. In every corner of the yard are groups of children studying hard. Babar Ali was just nine when he began teaching a few friends as a game.”
It may have started off as a game but today, “Babar’s school” has 800 pupils who benefit from free lessons. “It’s my duty to educate them, to help our country build a better future,” says Babar, speaking with the seriousness of a mature person. His initiative is a lesson for everyone, a rebuke to human indifference, and a powerful impetus to make the world a better place.
The fear-mongering media and the isolation of the individual
The information we receive profoundly influences us. Excessive exposure to media coverage of violence, crime, natural disasters, and wars can encourage us to isolate ourselves from a perceived hostile world. If a person believes that the world is evil and society is corrupt and beyond redemption, they will do little or nothing to help transform it.
If the media chooses to present us only with scandals involving so-called celebrities, cases of corruption, or details from the underworld, it is to make a profit. However, exposing the public, especially young people, to such a view of the world, encourages passivity and inaction. Why strive to make the world a better place when it seems irredeemably corrupt?
Media outlets that promote positive outlooks on life have fewer resources and receive less exposure than others. This does not mean, however, that they do not exist. The motivation to change the world begins with a new perspective on it and on the future.
Wanting other people to do things for you
Many of us are dissatisfied with the society in which we live. In a world marked by sadness and suffering, we often expect solutions to come from elsewhere. We would prefer others to do what we could do ourselves. Some manage to take action and change their own lives and the lives of those around them, even if this success is only on a small scale.
Others believe that their help would be too insignificant compared to the needs of others, and that their efforts would be in vain. In some cases, people are only motivated to get involved if the action promises to have a significant impact. They want to achieve great things quickly; things that will have a wide impact.
If the action and the results achieved are not on a grand scale, they conclude that there is no point in getting involved. The largest group probably consists of those who foster such thoughts, believing they lack the necessary resources. It is easiest to make excuses, arguing that charitable initiatives should be left to those with more money, time, or better training.
When we turn a blind eye, it is usually due to indifference or convenience. Anyone can contribute something: time, a helping hand, a smile, a word of encouragement, or a small amount of money. If someone enjoys being around children and playing with and teaching them useful things, they can use this talent to make their own little corner of the world a better place. You don’t need to join an organisation that works with children to do this. You don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to instil moral values and social norms in children’s minds and behaviour. We have our own children, elderly people, and poor people. Sometimes, the developing world is right next door or on the other side of the street.
“Who is my neighbour?” asked a scholar of old. Jesus replied with the parable of the Good Samaritan, indicating that one’s neighbour is the person in need of help whom you pass by. No one expects one person to change the world alone. Often, the journey to one’s destination is long and requires effort and resources. Yet, none of those who have embarked on this path have regretted trying to make the world a better place. A life dedicated to noble causes is not time wasted, but time well spent. In Adlerian psychotherapy, social concern is regarded as a fundamental principle: the more concerned a person is with the welfare of others, the better they are able to maintain or regain their own psychological balance. Stephen Post and Jill Neimark, authors of Why Do Good Things Happen to Good People?, argue that people who do good for others enjoy better health, are less prone to depression, have higher self-esteem, and are generally more successful.
If they can do it, so can we!
One of the best-known philanthropists is Bill Gates, who was ranked first in a Forbes[1] list of top donors to charitable causes. Most of the money donated by Bill Gates has been directed towards combating poverty and disease. The Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helú aims to raise living standards in Mexico, believing that poverty can be alleviated through education and employment. The principle underpinning his charitable work is that people should be taught not only how to catch fish, but also how to sell it so that they can eat more than just fish. People who become wealthy through their own hard work are the most generous, believes Leslie Lenkowsky, a professor at the Centre for Philanthropy at Indiana University. He notes that they understand that they have been blessed and that the success of their businesses depends on the quality of education and the communities with which they work.
Another example is that of British couple Chris Hohn and his wife, Jamie Cooper-Hohn. In 2006, their personal earnings exceeded £150 million, and they donated almost double that amount in the same year. Although Chris Hohn is recognised as Britain’s greatest philanthropist, he has not granted a single interview on this subject. It is as if Hohn, the founder of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, does not even exist. Other generous billionaires include Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg, Li Ka-shing, and Michael Dell. However, supporting causes, helping people, and improving living conditions are not tasks that should be left to the wealthy alone. Due to their fame, charitable actions by these billionaires receive more media coverage, and they enjoy public recognition for their involvement in society. Nevertheless, philanthropy does not depend on the size of one’s bank balance, but on the willingness to give up something for the benefit of others, even if one has less than others. Furthermore, philanthropy is not motivated by a desire to gain public approval but by a desire to change the world for its own sake.
People who love make the world a better place
Sometimes, people feel discouraged and powerless when faced with difficult situations. They feel as though they are alone in overcoming the challenge. But, this feeling of discouragement often stems from a lack of information. “There are literally millions of people working all over the globe to bring peace and justice to this world. Groups of organised, forward-looking people with a deep-seated desire for justice and equality have always been the most important catalysts for bringing about a better world.”[2]
There are many ways to get involved, ranging from providing financial support to organisations or causes, to using your own talents, skills, and abilities. Everyone can join a cause they believe in. These include helping the poor, supporting people facing various problems such as illness, depression, or limited access to education, supporting the elderly, getting involved in various projects and forms of human rights advocacy, supporting environmental causes, promoting the arts and culture, and fostering a transformative spirituality.
It is much easier to serve those we love. However, we should not limit our help solely to those we know. For Christians, Jesus Christ remains the best example: according to the Gospels, He spent a great deal of time among people, helping anyone in need. His greatest reward was not people’s gratitude, but the happiness He brought them. Through his commitment and example, Jesus radically changed the course of history.