pirates play plank pranks
Philanthropy comes in many forms and sizes. For a cause requiring an expert group to tend and repair, financial donations work best since the expertise takes inordinate time, patience, and diligence, often academic when referring to a medicine, for example. Yet, you’d be surprised how positive a result basic philanthropy can produce on a smaller scale. When you attack a smaller scale problem, you can quickly remove the middle man and get to work immediately. Even if it is a widespread problem, personal intervention can produce an instant gratification for both the giving & receiving parties.
Dave Eggers’ 2008 TED Prize address shows the product of a simple initiative to attack a small problem - poor writing skills in K12 children from that local SFBay area. The success of this effort is remarkable, but not unbelievable. Were similar efforts undertaken where one-on-one attention is given and positive values are reinforced, it’s not unlikely that other unrecognized social ills could be resolved.
A free basketball camp teaching sportsmanship to its participants; a digital art center where children are encouraged and allowed to just let loose; and, closer to home, a science and math tutoring center pretty much with the same foundation as Eggers’ creation. These are ideas that, in all likelihood, are already in action, but not in the numbers they should be. Community involvement is key to a safe environment for children, it’s a form of tearing down the ridiculous class segregation present in most American cities. As children interact, ignoring their demographics both financial and ethnic, in a creative environment, an equality is reached and goals are pursued that benefit the group rather than personal promotion.
Don’t misconstrue this as socialism - people working together in communities is something intrinsic in democracy and a thriving republic. A peaceful environment is maintained through community interaction and not white picket fences or 4-story SUVs. Though most of my tutoring experiences has been for pay (for peanuts, mind you), helping students on a personal level is far, far, far more enjoyable than trying to coordinate a group learning environment. Group learning is good, too, but change happens one person at a time. It’s also significantly more satisfying for both involved when just two people are working together.
Anyways. Eggers’ talk is worth watching.