Something to be proud of.

During my time in Sierra Leone, I've had an amazing chance to see first-hand the rebuilding and moving forward that this country is working on. Having the opportunity to visit the ongoing projects that Develop Africa is a part of, and hearing from Sierra Leoneans themselves about why they feel Develop Africa (DA) is special, I take away and sense of pride and joy of being one of the team. I also carry the message from Sierra Leone back to the states to all friends of DA that your time, talent, and/or financial contributions to DA are being used well and are doing immense good. Each individual involvement and investment with DA is something you can be proud of.

I think a big question for people is why Develop Africa? What's my interest? Why people that aren't my nationality, don't live on the same continent, and aren't even my remote relatives?

From learning about DA, I was impressed with the conscious, thoughtful, and conservative leadership of the organization. For those of you who know me, I jump into few things with out first studying whatever it may be and without asking many, many questions. It's not so much skepticism that drives this quality but rather a sincere desire to educated about different initiatives. I have many interests and find that I have so much to learn from others and can simply do so by asking lots of questions.

It was through many questions and Sylvester being open and available to my many questions about development work, Africa, DA's goals, and DA's set up that I became interested in personally investing time into the organization.

Through pictures, stories, and working with video footage from the field, I began to feel some connection to the people of West Africa. After all this is all about people, human beings, just like you and just like me. I'm reminded of the principle tenets of what my country, the USA, was founded on and I remember the principle tenets of my faith, these are part of my compassion to help others regardless of any adjective (race, color, creed) that characterizes human beings.

Through my trip to Sierra Leone, I was introduced to board members of DA, to project overseers, and directly to many people whose lives are directly impacted through projects of DA. This visit showed me a country with immense need but met with immense potential and promise. I was welcomed with kindness, greeted with smiles, and shown individual determination and ingenuity.

So I pick DA much like people may pick stocks and investments...I did my homework...I had an amazing opportunity to see firsthand what the organization entails....met many of it's board-members....and wholeheartedly believe in it's product ----- the development of individuals so they can pursue a life with education, free from the disease of malaria, and have means to feed their families. This is something I choose to invest in. Develop Africa is something to be proud of. To all those making a conscious effort to do one thing today to make the world a better place than it was yesterday, the world salutes you.

The last statement I want to address is one I hear every now and again.... "Why not America? We have problems here than need to be fixed before we can help anyone else."
My simple answer is....DO BOTH.
And then I try to put it in perspective....I went to a place where there is no McDonalds, WalMart, social security, welfare, food stamps, disability, un-employment, rarely access to medical care and found kids that didn't have an xbox, a cell phone, have never used a computer, walk to fetch water, many without shoes, sometimes are hungry because they haven't eaten that day...who just love, laugh, and live with all they have. Many times all they want, is to go to school, to have a pair of shoes to play futbol in, to be your friend, and maybe to hold your hand.

So...give away all you have and move to a third world country? I don't think that's the answer or the message I gained from my travels. Rather, enjoy your many blessings, give back to others, and be ever thankful for what you have.