The Power of Giving Back

BY LESLIE VERA

Many people wait to give back because they feel that they lack the money or time. It is not the lack of resources that is stopping them, but the lack of resourcefulness. But there are many ways to impact someone’s life - a simple act of kindness, bringing hope or happiness to someone’s life, can be enough.

My first memory of giving back goes back to when I was six years old and still living in the Peruvian Amazon. It was Christmas Eve, and like many other Peruvians, my family and I were celebrating Christmas that night. The tradition was to go to the plaza - the park in the center of town - have a Christmas dinner, and stay up until midnight to open presents.

That evening, my family and I went to the plaza, and as we walked closer, I noticed two boys around my age cleaning shoes for 20 cents. I couldn’t stop wondering why they were working on Christmas Eve, so I turned to my mom and asked her if we could invite them over for our Christmas dinner. My mom couldn’t say no, but she said, “If you want to invite them, YOU have to go ask them yourself.”

I ran over to them to ask if they would want to join us for dinner, and they happily accepted. The smiles on their faces lit up mine, so I ran back to my mom to tell her they would be coming.

Although, at the time, we were also struggling with money and didn’t have much, my mom quickly walked over to a store nearby to buy them something small for their Christmas presents. The two boys and their mom walked back home with us and celebrated Christmas with us that night.

It was the first time that they had a Christmas dinner and presents in their lives. The happiness they radiated brought joy to everyone in our household, and from that moment forward, I knew that bringing joy to those around me would fulfill me in life. After all, studies show that individuals who give back typically live longer and happier lives.

I share this story because it shows that you don’t need too much in order to start giving back. Start small and start today.

Once you start giving back to the community, you can inspire others to do the same and create a ripple effect of positive impact. Find an area of philanthropy that speaks to you, develop a habit of giving back regularly, and prepare to reap the benefits of giving back.

My passion for giving back led me to start a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called End The Cycle that aims to end the cycle of poverty through technology and education in the Peruvian Amazon. Our President, Leslie Vera, comes from a small town in the Peruvian Amazon and has experienced and witnessed the poverty that people on that side of the world must endure.

Many families don’t send their children to school because of a lack of resources. She decided that investing in children’s education was one of the best ways to help end the cycle of poverty in her hometown.

End The Cycle started its work with the Peruvian community five years ago to help kids go to school by providing backpacks, materials, and tuition. It was created to raise funds and awareness to make a bigger impact and help end the cycle of poverty in the Peruvian Amazon.

Our mission is to provide resources and opportunities to impoverished children in Peru, giving them the tools necessary to break the cycle of poverty in their families. We do this by bridging the economic gap in families and providing opportunities inside and outside the classroom for children living below the poverty line.

Every year, for the last four years, we have sponsored 100 kids who live in extreme poverty to go to school with the tools necessary to succeed in the school year.

What about you? Are you in the habit of being generous? Make a commitment this year to share your time, resources, or experience with a cause that speaks to you. It does not have to be much, but the reward for you and the receiver will be worth it!

If you would like to learn more about End The Cycle and how you can send children in the Peruvian Amazon to school and help end the cycle of poverty in their families, please visit EndTheCyclePeru. Org or follow us on Instagram at EndTheCycle.