What is Charity?

A recent event on Easter weekend got me thinking... what is charity? Is it giving money to every person on the street that asks? Is it donating a spare hour of your life every week to the local hospital or retirement center? Is is it devoting 27 months of your life to educating youth? I think they are all forms of charity. All are commendable in some way and all are necessary as well. But who gets to decide what type of charity is more valuable or important that the others?

After Easter Mass, my friend Christine and I went out for a holiday meal at, you won't believe it, TGIFriday's in Kyiv. Now this is not a normal excursion considering one lunch there is 10% of our monthly allowence. However it was a holiday and we planned to splurge a little. We were chatting on the corner before entering the restaurant finishing our drinks before entering, when a street man came up and asked for money. We politely smiled but did not give him any money and he went on his way. This is a normal occurance for English speakers in Kyiv. Well after he left a Brittish man walked around us mumbling just loud enough for us to hear that we were dispicable, had no understanding of charity and how we were comparable with a few bad words. He obviously was not a PCV and was wearing high end euro-fashion which also led me to believe that he is either a wife hunter or an Ex-Pat living the Ex-Pat lifestyle in a big glamourous city.

That got us thinking though? What really is charity? I think that Christine and I were a bit shocked that someone would have such audacity to criticize another without even knowing them. If he had chosen to give the man a griven or not (which is about $.20) I would have thought no more or less of him. In my opinion personally, time is much more valuable than money and though this particular man might not agree with me I think his solution to the worlds hunger and economic issues of merely throwing money at it is only a temporary fix. We give the man some money, and he gets a one piece of bread. Where is the sustainability in that? Yes, it was a good thing to do and it may give that rich british ex-pat some warm fuzzies for a moment. But after those wear off... what became of the hungry man? Is he still hungry? Probably. He probably never consedered that rather then perpectuate the beggar cycle, that is so prominent in this culture, that his time, or at least his money, may be better spent elsewhere? I guess you can call what he did philanthropy and all philanthropy needs a financial backer at some point, but it starts with an idea or goal that attracts the financial backer. It's not just a one time thing that gives you a fleeting moment of warm-fuzzies but a challenge that takes time and energy on top of money, and in someway benefits all the parties involved.

So what's the answer to the man asking for money... maybe help him locate the nearest soup kitchen or mission? that way he always knows where to go for a warm meal and not just one lousy piece of bread.

Just a thought from the Eastern Front...

Big Money! No Whammies!

Okay, so I kinda stole that title from one of the most beloved game shows, and a personal favorite, Press Your Luck. But that's what I did and I won!!! I just heard back on the grant for the summer camp from the Embassy... Now nothing is finalized and we'll have to wait to hear the official word from Washington, but WE'RE GETTING FUNDED!!! Now it's not for the whole amount of $13000+ but for approximately $10000! Now we'll have to cut some expenses and corners but I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve... I can't believe its going to happen! I'm smiling like a baby with a lollipop in the internet cafe!!! Smiles don't come out here as much as they do in America and I'm sure the other customers in the cafe are again thinking to themselves, 'oh, look at the mildly retarded american with that funny smile'. But quite frankly right now I don't care what they think of me. We're doing the camp!!! I don't know if it's that I'm skilled as a grant writter or just a bit of dumb luck that I've stumbled on to... (I'm leaning to the former rather than the latter.) It's going to be one of the greatest things that I do here I think. What is great about a camp though is that you are dealing with kids who are usually easy to please. All they are concerned with is having fun and that is an area which I consider myself somewhat of a low-grade expert (nothing wrong with knowing what areas you excell in).
On other fronts of my life here, I've started back at the jogging now that I can get back outside. And I'm really liking it though I know I look like a fool. I've found some new trails and there scenery is quite nice now, bright green grass under a cloudy spring sky. It's relaxing. I think I might even attempt to grow some veggies in the garden. It's not definite yet but I'm getting a bit of inspiration from all the planting that's been going on. I was thinking something easy like onions, carrots and garlic. Something that it would really take more talent to kill them rather grow them. Any thoughts on that selection of veggies? I would appreciate feedback from those more experienced than I in that area. I've started the planning for the Narcotics Prevention training. It will be on June 4th. I'll be starting the phone calls on speakers and what not this week as well as gathering materials. As spring came on quickly here so, it appears, has my workload. Don't worry though, nothing I can't manage. Mom's, Dad's and Kay's visit will be a nice break in between the two projects. Things are really starting to come into place... I was a bit doubtful as I watched all of my clubs fall apart due to the winter hibernation.... Take care and I love you all!!!

Spring is finally here!!! AMEN!

So miraculously in the past 2 weeks, snow has melted, mud has come and gone and now spring has finally arrived. The season of mud was much shorter here in the Novo-e than last year in Kalinovka. I think having your town built on the side of a rather steep hill helps. The water doesn't really stand still long enough to create mud. Our main street was like a river for a few days though. I am wearing my lovely spring jacket and my shades... well I always wear my shades... I like to think that others may not notice me if I'm incognito. But good news on the grant writting front, I will receive my $1450 grant for a comprehensive community narcotic prevention program. I'm very excited about that. The deadline for the Democracy Grant is tomorrow. I didn't receive all the wonderful feedback from the draft that I submitted as the first grant but this one is through the Embassy and not Peace Corps so I would imagine that they would be a bit more difficult. Also this one is for $13400 which is a considerable bit more. I made the changes that the grant program director at the embassy suggested and we shall see. It was quite the relief though when I heard that we would be awarded the money for the first grant. It was like finding out you made the cut for the cheerleading squad. Such anticipation, such buildup, and then release. I told my counterpart Natasha at school today and she preceeded to cheer and tell all the other teachers. Next thing I knew, Champaign had arrived and the impromptu celebration began... I don't know how it all happened but I swear the secret police, SBU, must have bugged the school and brought the champaign imediately. Now I hope they haven't got their hopes up... I'm feeling a bit of pressure now to come through on the program and hopefully it won't be a massive Bellyflop! Well The sun is shinning and the snow is gone... Spring has come and I've done some massive cleaning still with more to go though... Take care everyone... Oh and the ST Patty's Day party was a big hit! We all loved the Decorations sent from home. I even through a little party for the teachers at my school with home made Irish Soda Bread from a secret family recipe. The teachers couldn't believe that I had made the bread myself... Sometimes I think they render me domestically inept but then I surprise them again with a gem from my domesticated inner-soul.... Ta-Ta for now!