|
52 Ways To Make A Difference
By Amina Cisse Muhammad
04/06/2001
Often, when we think of how we might somehow make a difference in someone else's life, we think of only the "big ways." Although it is great to strive towards the ideal, we are often stopped from trying by considerations such as a lack of time and/or money, or we are discouraged because we don't believe we will get the results that we desire.
In this column, we will feature discussions of "small ways" that each of us, as Muslims and as human beings, can seek to contribute to our families, our communities, our societies; indeed, Insha'Allah, to the world. And we urge you to take a moment to reflect on these words, and to contemplate how you might put them into action in your own life to benefit humanity. May Allah bless each and every one of us!
#13: Reach out to the younger generation.
To safeguard our children - and our nation's [world's] future - every one of us must act on their behalf. … there are countless ways to take part in efforts to improve the lives of children. Regardless of our individual resources, we all can do something. Helping does not require wealth or great power. It takes caring, hard work, and persistence (Hatkoff and Klopp, 1992, foreword by Marion Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, DC, US).
The world's children are in need… in many ways. The following statistics, compiled by the Children's Defense Fund, reflect the needs of American children (who have a relative advantage over children living in most parts of the world):
· In 1999, 12.1 million U.S. children (one in six) were poor.
· More than three out of four poor children (78 percent) live with a family member who worked at least part of the year, and one out of three poor children (3.8 million) lives in a household where someone is employed full-time year round.
· More than two out of five children in families headed by single women (42 percent) were poor in 1999. Only eight percent of children in married families were poor.
· An estimated 2.8 million children were reported as suspected child abuse or neglect cases in 1998 and over 900,000 of them were confirmed as victims of child abuse and neglect.
· Nationally, only about half of the child abuse and neglect reports are even investigated and on average only about one-third of these investigations find child abuse and/or neglect. Of the abused and neglected children, only about half receive post-investigation services.
· Firearms killed 3,761 children and teens age 19 and under in 1998 - that's 10 children every day. Of these, 2,184 were murdered, 1,241 committed suicide, and 262 were victims of accidental shootings.
Again, these statistics describe the plight of American children only. When we stop to think about the millions of children who are suffering throughout the world, the situation appears bleak.
"What can one person do?" we might ask ourselves. In response, I would like to reprint a short story from the first column of
52 Ways To Make A Difference:
A woman walked along the beach, throwing starfish that had been stranded by the outgoing tide back into the ocean. There were hundreds of them to return to the water and, obviously, she couldn't begin to accomplish that task. A cynical man came along and asked in a most arrogant manner, "What possible difference do you think you can make for all those starfish?" The woman stooped down, picked up another and, as she tossed it into the water, she replied in a quiet, confident tone, "For this one, it makes all the difference in the world" (Author unknown).
It doesn't matter how insignificant our gifts and talents may appear to be - we don't know how significant they are in Allah's eyes, or what possible outcomes they may bring about. "Man proposes, Allah disposes."
There are numerous organizations and programs that have been established - locally, nationally and internationally - to help the world's children. There are programs that address hunger and homelessness, abuse and violence prevention, illiteracy and inadequate schooling…
Take an inventory of the gifts that Allah has bestowed upon you that you can apply to help someone less fortunate, and then find a program in your area that can match your talent with the need for it. As mentioned in the last
52 Ways article, there are immense rewards to be earned in serving others.
And remember that, consciously or unconsciously, we all are helping to shape the world we live in. Wouldn't it be so much more effective if each of us actively jumped in to do our share?
Whether you know it or not, you are teaching every day. What would a young onlooker learn from your example? Does your behavior reflect the values you would want to instill in kids today? Through your actions, by volunteering, talking to kids, or reaching out in some other way, communicate the values and beliefs you would want the next generation to possess (Gordon).
Begin with your own children. Love them. Spend time with them. Guide them and be prepared to discipline them. Spark their imaginations. As a family, with your children, reach out to other children. Make helping neighbors a way of life (Sam Beard, President and Founder, The American Institute for Public Service).
People think that unless they can devote themselves like Mother Teresa, they will not make a difference, and this is not true. One person reaching out to one person can make an incredible difference, both in the life of the one being touched, and those that he touches" (Alfonso Watt, Vice President, Fund for the City of New York).
"Each one, teach one" (Author unknown).
"If we share what we know, we all will grow" (Author unknown).
"The best thing we can spend on our children is time" (Author unknown).
"Y[our] children need y[our] presence more than y[our] presents" (Rev. Jesse Jackson).
Notes: This list is being developed partially from the card set,
52 Ways to Make A Difference, authored by Lynn Gordon and published by Chronicle Books of San Francisco in 1996, and
available at Borders Book Store in the mini-book section.
Sources
"A Fair Start." 2000. Children's Defense Fund. May 25, 2001.
Hatkoff, Amy and Klopp, Karen Kelly. How To Save The Children. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.
"A Safe Start: Child Abuse and Neglect, Foster Care, and Adoption" 2000. Children's Defense Fund. May 25, 2001.
"A Safe Start: In America ... Facts on Youth, Violence, & Crime" 2000. Children's Defense Fund. May 25, 2001.
|
