Category Archives: Think Opportunity… Not Charity
There are fundraisers and then there are fundCHANGERS.
What’s the difference?
Well for one, fundraising usually goes in one direction. It is raising money to give to a good cause and help benefit the work they do. They’re great, but I struggle with the whole ‘patronizing’ aspect of them as well as the ‘give and forget’ problem it usually creates.
FundCHANGERS on the other hand go both directions. What I mean by that is although money is raised to...
Written By: Carissa Vados
As kids in a developed country such as Canada, we are taught to dream. Dream big, use our imaginations, paint a thousand pictures of what it is we want to be when we grow up. A doctor, lawyer, teacher, business owner… the possibilities are endless. I even knew a kid who wanted to become a house. We dream so big sometimes we don’t even understand when we’re out of scope. Our parents, grandparents, teachers and role models not only allow but...
Now during my time here I have been emphasizing the slogan, "Think Opportunity, Not Charity." I’ve made some challenging remarks against charities, some which many may not have been welcomed.
I hope you will allow me to state my perspective through a fictious, yet possible, story…
Imagine a farmer here in Bongo; we’ll call him Alfred. For the past year Alfred has realized that in order to increase his productivity he needs to get a donkey cart....
Now I’ve been throwing the word ‘opportunity’ around a lot these days, and well I thought I would add a little bit more context to it. The statement “opportunities for all” isn’t exactly encouraging to here with the way the world is going right now; however, if we really take a minute to think about, we’ll see how it’s not the problem in our society, it’s the solution!
First off, as we struggle through a recession, day after day jobs are lost and...
It’s official… on August 31, I will be heading back to Bongo where I will continue my efforts in breaking borders and building opportunities!
Unfortunately, due to the circumstances of the situation, in order to return to Ghana I was told that I’d have to fund my own flight back. After living off a modest stipend of $12/day for the past 8 months, this has certainly created a bit of a challenge. Now in order to stick to my firm belief in “Think Opportunity, Not...
When I look back on my past, I can’t help but be reminded of all the incredible people that continually pushed me towards my potential. Even in the worst of times, there were those who saw some sort of potential in me, even though I may have felt there was none at all. It is their energy and attitude that has inspired my next idea…
A few months ago I dreamt up an idea that would not only create opportunities, but allow me to ‘give back’ for all that I have...
As you might remember, thanks to the efforts of team HODA, the Farmer Group Business Development Fund was created with the money raised from the event. In brief, the fund will award 5 groups with GHC 100 loans to put towards their group farming business activity. In order to be eligible for the loan, groups had to be undertaking the Agriculture As A Business program as well as fill out an application that challenges the groups to reflect and plan for their farming...
I have another challenge for you! Go out to your nearest dollar store, buy a whole bunch of Canada goods (flags, pins, shirts, etc.), and walk around your neighbourhood and try to sell it. Next, quit your job and solely rely on doing this souvenir selling around your community as your full-time job. That’s crazy talk eh! Well this is what life is like for this young man, and many others, whose livelihoods are, as the picture ironically depicts, ‘financed by’...
Where did it all begin? I mean what made me want to boldly explore and promote an idea that isn’t exactly common amongst the status quo… “Think Opportunity, Not Charity.” Although I knew it wouldn’t exactly be the easiest stance to take, it was the result of three key things that propelled me in the direction…
It all started when I decided to take a course in third world politics during my final semester of university. With the faint idea of...
As promised in the last post, I would like to show you the ways in which it is continually becoming easier these days for us to ‘create opportunities’ overseas! We as westerners are beginning to have more and more local opportunities that create overseas opportunities; however, being in the grassroots stages, they are still not as mainstream. Let’s take a look at how I believe we can play our part…
Consumer Purchasing Power
Purchasing power is probably...
From My Mind
Imagine you could change the world with 2 words. Well you can, and it's simply your name. Your name not only defines you, but it represents YOUR thoughts and interests... thoughts that lead to actions, and interests that drive passion... it's these very elements that shape the world we see today. We are all part of this; each and every one of us in our own unique way. What you are about to read is a collection of my thoughts and interests... my attempts to change the world...
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