Compassion

Taking the Challenge

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In my previous post I told you about joining the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge to raise funds for Compassion.

I’ll be riding around 290 kilometres over three days to release children from poverty. I’ve seen Compassion’s work first hand in Haiti and Dominican Republic so I know it makes a real difference.

One of the other riders on the challenge is Andrew Streat, Marketing Director for Compassion Australia. Andrew’s based in New South Wales, on the other side of Australia, so I won’t get to ride with him until the event in February but I’m looking forward to meetin him and the others who are riding for a great cause.

Prior to joining Compassion, Andrew worked in a number of different fields and areas, including spending a decade in the Air Force travelling through Asia and Australia, picking up a managerial position in a Health and Fitness Centre, working with mentally disabled adults as a Diversional Therapist for Hunter Mission, and giving 15 years to various marketing and managerial roles with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Joining Compassion in 2010, Andrew now heads up the marketing team by taking the common vision of seeing children released from poverty in Jesus’ name, and sharing this vision with supporters and child advocates throughout Australia. Andrew’s favourite quote, “stand for something or fall for anything” infiltrates all his actions as Marketing Director, as he seeks to show the Australian people why Compassion stands for children living in poverty, and how they can help advocate against this injustice.

Andrew is also a man of many hidden talents: he enjoys painting artworks, learning the violin, drinking good coffee and spending quality time surfing with his wife, Kim.

Today on my Morning Café radio program I spoke to Andrew about the challenge and how the money raised would be used to release children from poverty. You can click the play button on the audio player below to listen to our conversation.

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Pedalling Compassion

Dec 20th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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In April 2008 I escaped Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, as rioting escalated and smoke from burning barricades filled the air. I was part of a media team travelling with Compassion Australia, there to see their aid work in one of the world’s very poorest nations. We were meant to be there for about a week but were evacuated within 48 hours of arriving due to the rapidly changing situation. Some Haitians had died and many more had been injured. We had been far too close to some of the rioting for comfort.

We had a very difficult journey to the airport and at times we were in very real danger. We finally hooked up with some armed police who escorted us to the airport. We were to fly to Dominican Republic but the flight was cancelled. The airline was not prepared to fly into Haiti. Later that day we finally made it out with another airline.

Haitians were rioting because they had nothing to eat and were unable to provide food for their families. That’s the kind of place that Compassion works.

It Gets Worse

On Tuesday the 12th of January last year a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing around 220 000, injuring more than 300 000 and affecting 3.5 million people. Even before the quake, 86% of people in Port au Prince were living in slum conditions. Compassion was there and continues to work with the people of Haiti.

Something Must Be Done

Haiti is just one country where Compassion is working. All over the world, often in difficult circumstances, Compassion is working to release children from poverty. They can only do their job if we’re prepared to get involved. Since that trip to Haiti our family has sponsored a boy from Haiti through Compassion. It’s a small contribution but we know we’re making a difference.

Let’s Ride

Having seen first hand, both in Haiti and Dominican Republic, how effective Compassion’s work is, I am determined to do more to help. That’s why from the 12th to the 14th of February 2012 I’ll be taking part in the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge.

I’ll be riding 290 kilometres in three days and I need your support. By sponsoring my efforts on the challenge you’ll be releasing children from poverty. You’ll be giving children a real chance at life. Please visit my fundraising page and make a contribution. Maybe you can afford to sponsor me for a dollar a kilometre, maybe 50 cents a kilometre, or perhaps you’d just like to donate $10, $20, $50 or any other amount.

When I think of all the opportunities I provide for my own children, I can’t sit back without offering the most basic of opportunities to someone else’s child. My parent’s heart won’t allow me to do nothing.

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Do you need a pig?

Dec 19th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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You might not have a lot of use for a pig but for a rural family in a developing country the simple gift of a pig could be just what they need to break free from poverty.

So where do you buy a pig and how do you get it to someone who needs it? Compassion Australia’s Gifts of Compassion is open and ready for business. Their gifts help people who are battling desperate poverty. They can take your money and turn it into a very real solution to poverty.

You can buy everything from mosquito nets to a mechanic workshop with lots more in between including chickens, cows, sewing machines and a kit to help new mums.

I know that it’s wonderful to receive gifts at Christmas but most of us already have more than enough ‘stuff’, so why not do something different this year and let your friends and family know that you’d like them to choose something from Gifts of Compassion for your Christmas gift this year?

Go on … you’ve thought about it before but unless you let your loved ones know now it’ll never happen.

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The strange things we do for others

Nov 28th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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I’ve recently signed up for a three day bike ride to raise money for Compassion Australia and the work they do in releasing children from poverty. The ride’s in February and I’ll be cycling the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

I’ve seen Compassion’s work first hand in Haiti and Dominican Republic, so I know I’ll be supporting a great cause. If you’d like to help me kick start my fundraising you can follow this link to sponsor me. I’ll tell you more about it as it gets closer but it’s got me wondering about raising funds for good causes and the things we do.

I’ve done a lot of cycling for great causes over the years. I’ve also been locked up as a convict for a cause, raising money for Cystic Fibrosis WA. I’ve done the forty hour famine for World Vision a number of times, taken part in fund raising morning teas, worn red noses and several other bits and pieces along the way.

I’m wondering what crazy things you’ve done for a cause. Tell me what activities you’ve done to fund raise for a worthy reason and what cause you supported. Maybe it’s been making cupcakes or lamingtons. Maybe you’ve taken part in a run or even shaved your head. What have you done to help others?

Please leave a comment or two with your fund raising experiences.

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Scrooges at Christmas

Nov 15th, 2011

by Rodney Olsen.

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I spotted this headline this morning – Shoppers turn Scrooge as cost-of-living pressures bite into retail spending. My immediate thought was, “really?”

Why should people be labeled as scrooges when they’re simply trying to live within their means? Why should we be forced to spend more than we can afford to give things that most people don’t need?

The article tells us about the ‘desperate’ state of Christmas shopping this year.

THERE will be fewer – and cheaper – gifts under the Christmas tree this year because cost-of-living pressures are forcing Australians to rethink their shopping habits.

Extravagant shopping sprees on credit are being replaced with thrifty gifts and worries about being able to afford a decent feast for the family, an exclusive online survey of more than 1000 Daily Telegraph readers found.

About 30 per cent of people plan to spend no more than $50 on gifts for each family member this Christmas, with 15 per cent budgeting less than $20 per present.

I know that we all love to treat our loved ones and that gift giving is a wonderful part of our relationships, but if all we take out of Christmas is a desire to outspend each other we’ve missed the point. It’s a vicious circle that has us feeling more and more stressed and makes Christmas a time we’d rather avoid.

What if we started to think differently? What if we took the lead of organisations like Compassion and gave gifts that were not only appreciated but life changing?

Most of us here in Australia have more than enough “stuff” in our lives, yet each birthday and Christmas we find ourselves cramming more well-intentioned gifts into our cupboards. But what if you could give—and receive—gifts that meant something special to your family and friends, but also to children who have far less stuff than they need? That is the genius of Gifts of Compassion!

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