The response from local business has been fantastic, especially in the past week or two, there seems to have been an influx of donations... but still I have this under lying fear that on the actual night, nobody will actually turn up, and this will have all been for nothing. That little voice of self doubt keeps chirping away at me saying "Why should you expect people to help you" well I don't 'expect' peoples help, but I am asking for it... I think most people are beginning to see, it isn't me they are helping but the children in Nakuru, the children in the Holding Hands Children's home, the children of the Gioto Garbage Slum, the children at the Aberdare Ranges School.
Back at the end of May, when this long held dream started to take shape, when it started to become a reality, there was a "constant" in my life telling me I could do this, fueling it, keeping me motivated. Whilst things have changed a little now, it was that belief that enabled me to see I could do this. It was that belief that lit the spark and stood back, and now the fireworks are staring to happen. Was this just a cunning ploy to make a person realise their potential? I don't know, but if he hadn't seen that ability in me, I would still be sitting back wishing, hoping, dreaming, so for that and his other acts of generosity I'm eternally grateful.Though it may be harder to achieve without a voice of encouragement from the sideline, that voice inside telling me I can do this, is getting louder than the voice telling me I can't.
Asante
Jacq
Dear Jacqui.E, have just come across your writing for the first time, so know nothing of you ... can tell you though that even if no one turns up on the night, the result is a good one ... have been a fundraiser for helping children myself, and the main person who stepped up and made a life changing difference for a lot of Nicaraguan children came in 6 months AFTER the official event .... and I never met him in person. While your passion (as I read in bio) is educating children, this project would seem to be as much about educating adults as actually raising $$ ... and don't they need it, big time ! So I'd say, don't let the results of one appointed time (if disappointing) be the verdict on your project. The children still need help and education, so set new date if need be, press on !! It's not about whether or not you CAN do it, you ARE doing it, and that's what counts !! You can keep going for as long as you choose, and it's not over until YOU decide to stop. Which would be okay too, but it's coz you chose to stop, not coz you can't do it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jacqui.E I just wrote this long reply to your post, only to lose it ! The gist was that when fundraising myself to address the needs of a group of street kids in Nicaragua, the person who made the biggest difference to our efforts came along 6 months after our big drive ... that the fact is it's no longer a question of whether you can do it or not,what matters is you ARE doing what you think needs to be done (and I agree). So you are NOW educating the adults, slow learners at the best of times LOL ! Even if no one turns up 'on the night', don't let that be the test of whether or not you succeeded ... just set another time ... you can choose to stop any time you feel you want to stop, but you don't have to declare it a failure on your part if the results are not what you have set up as the criteria for success ... review, press on, review, press on .... it's worth it !
ReplyDeleteMiriam,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your lovely words... I couldn't reply earlier as I was at work, but just had to comment.
If I'm honest, I'm really pleased with how the fundraising is going, the contributions from local business' has been outstanding, never more so than over the past couple of weeks. I don't doubt people will show up, I just place pretty high expectations on everything I do and it probably causes me undue stress and worry. I have the support of amazing friends, family and colleagues so what ever happens I know I couldn't have done more. I love the fact another kiwi has come across my 'drivel'. I never claim this to be a literary master piece, but it is a great way to unblock the brain whilst also acknowledging those who are helping me on this journey.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and I promise to update with amounts raised, photos and more information, so please, if the urge takes you do pop back and check out how it's all going.
Asante
Jacq