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11 February 2011
A total stranger is introduced to our charity - read what he thinks about EFTC after just two days. It's truly inspirational.FAIRNESS
Quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) outraged by how things are. Vast inequality/ the status quo is unacceptable. To those according to their need; from those according to their ability. Giving something back (from people lucky enough to have been born/educated in the developed West) is a GOOD (in fact necessary) thing. Internationalist in outlook (what happens there affects things here.)
DOGGED DIRECT ACTION
Do something! Undaunted, even by seemingly overwhelming obstacles. The tortoise not the hare. Every little helps. Do it ourselves. Volunteers. Sponsors. Donors. It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness. The environment (murder; abuse; intimidation; grinding poverty; poor health) is extremely challenging. Future oriented. The power of possibility.
HEART
Practical compassion - some people are in desperate situations. We can help them, even if we can’t help all of them. The importance of smiles. Learning should be fun (even when it’s hard.) Encouraging creativity. Enabling sponsors to make a difference. Donating can be challenging and exciting. A big element of emotion alongside the rational in everything EFTC does. Importance of individual child sponsorship - a heart connection for life. Hope Bringers (again a rational and emotional benefit).
INTENSELY PRACTICAL
Whatever works: if kids need fed, it’s food. Or a stove. Or water filter. Education is the most productive way to transform individual lives quickly (for X input you get X-cubed output. And it can spread like a positive virus.) Style is down-to-earth. Discipline needed to get things done. Sentimentality clouds judgement. Sustainable growth important - in it for the long-term. Despite the importance of HEART it needs to be quite hard-nosed.
BELIEF IN THE POWER OF EDUCATION TO TRANSFORM
Not just to change at the margin but change fundamentally how things are. To break the cycle of poverty. To help students have happier individual lives - and make the society ‘smarter’ too. Helping people help themselves. Education feeds itself. Has social impact far beyond learning how to do maths - learning how to think. The most productive input we can bring (actually better than money.)
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