By Lauren Craft
Give2Asia Philanthropic Initiatives Intern
Philanthropy is a remarkable outlet which enables those who have plenty to impact other people and the environment for the better. In an effort to learn more about philanthropy and nonprofits, the vehicles that bring about real change, I recently began a journey to discover this field through my daily life. My intent was not to be involved on the periphery by adding a hobby or side activity to my normal routine, but rather to engage as a full-time volunteer or intern in search of an impactful career path.
My first adventure was at Kiva, an innovative, microfinance nonprofit based in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco. Then, only a month ago, I started my internship on the business development team here at Give2Asia. Each day, I am exposed to noteworthy, mission-driven nonprofits all over Asia. The excitement of learning about and assisting in the process of strengthening these organizations is more rewarding and worthwhile than I ever imagined. It truly affords those of us in the developed world an opportunity to impact and create real, lasting change in some of the neediest pockets on the globe.
One Asian organization, the Mango Tree Garden, just crossed my path by way of an article by Paul Hogan, founder of the Butterfly Peace Garden in Sri Lanka. The Mango Tree Garden is a nonprofit organization located in the Ang Snuol District of Cambodia which provides educational, cultural and spiritual community programs for children each Sunday. The central goal of the organization is to offer creative activities and a nurturing environment to allow children to overcome the trauma of war and adversity while inspiring hope for the future. Activities incorporating story-telling, drawing, painting, drama, singing and dancing, along with prayer and meditation, enrich and encourage balance in the lives of poor or orphaned children who have suffered from severe economic hardship, violence, discrimination, HIV or AIDS and poverty. With 40 to 50 children participating in the programs weekly, the Mango Tree Garden is a key component to rejuvenating Cambodian communities.
In his article, “Facing Fear,” Hogan describes his travels to the Mango Tree Garden to hold seminars and workshops for volunteers on techniques which help heal children affected by war. Hogan elucidates the complexity involved in interacting with people and regions that have experienced genocide, the ensuing pain, grief and fear, abandonment, conflict and poverty. His interpretation of Cambodia and the engagement of healing, artistic techniques at the Mango Tree Garden highlight the responsive, resilient and long-term commitments essential to overcoming such seemingly insurmountable obstacles and achieving measurable change.
Many strikingly similar critical issues occur throughout Asia and the rest of the world. By engaging the ample resources in the developed world, projects involving education, health, the environment and disaster relief within a country offer hope for the local people and the environment. As stressed by Hogan’s experience at the Mango Tree Garden in Cambodia, responsive, resilient and long-term commitments are the only philanthropic efforts that have and will continue to create real change. As I personally continue to participate in and gain knowledge about philanthropy, I will continue to spend my time working towards such real, lasting change.
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