After reading chapter 8 of CauseWired, I was struck by the question, "If you are not one of the nation's nine million millionaires, how do you create any impact? How do you know your money is well-given (143)?"I give on a monthly basis to an organization called "International Justice Mission," where their mission is to end modern day slavery. I started thinking about why I choose to invest my money into such an organization. It started with me being exposed to the reality that there are over 27 million people living in some form of slavery today... which is more than the entire transatlantic slave trade. I saw an image of a young girl (no older than 13) sitting in a dark, dingy, and dirty room with nothing on her body but undergarments. Beneath the picture read a quote, "make sex free." I was immediately overcome with emotion and felt mandated to do something about it. This girl was forced into prostitution at at 12 and had to service 10-12 men per day. If she did not meet her quota, she was beaten and starved. This disgusting reality made my stomach turn inside out. I was compelled to aid in ending this horrible reality. International Justice Mission (IJM) put out literature noting how "I" can get involved. Although I am unable to give millions like Buffet, my monthly contribution goes to aid a philanthropic organization that devotes their entire life to this cause. IJM distributes rescue stories to their supporters and has an entire online gallery that one is able to read, learn, and spread awareness of the work.
Ultimately, my monthly contribution is not going to be published on any of Forbes listings, but I do believe that I'm creating an impact on a life that is so worth saving and fighting for.
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