$100 experience :)

Hello, finally got around to doing this, and during my fasting time too :)

During this whole process, it was quite interesting in that the attitude to which you treat $100 is vastly different, if it was your own, and as compared to now, when we're given it to steward as best as we can.

I found myself being very much more careful about where I considered spending it, in that I wanted to be sure to make the best use of it. There were so many avenues where resources are needed, and I was constantly surprised at the amount of good one can do with this amount of money.

The recipients to which I donated to finally would not be a surprise to anyone. These are two non-profit medical organizations (Interchurch Medical Assistance, Medicins Sans Frontiere) dedicated to providing care for those in needy countries, and war-torn areas. What really helped me decide on these, was when I saw how MUCH they could achieve with $50.

"$35 a month can provide lifesaving antiretroviral treatment for someone living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

$50 a month can treat 252 cholera patients.

$100 a month can provide 800 rapid tests to diagnose malaria.

$200 can provide infection fighting antibiotics to treat 74 wounded people.

$500 can provide a basic Health Kit containing drugs and medical equipment to provide health care for 10,000 displaced persons for 3 months."

It really made me wonder, how can we live our lives the way we do now, if such a small change in our lives every month, can make a big difference in so many others'. It also makes me wonder about the state of our consumerist society.

How can one contemplate buying a 600,000 car for vanity, when one that's say 80,000 serves your purpose just as well, and the added money saved could go on to do so much more good, and to save so many more lives from suffering and death. I believe when you starting seeing money wasted, as lives you could have saved, that's when the real meaning of how much we truly have in Singapore really hits you, that we're given so much, even though we complain and grumble at times.

So yeah, that's what I've learnt from this exercise. This certainly won't be the last time I'm going to give to good causes, now that I've seen what a difference even one of us can make in the lives of others.

Terence