First let me explain this title - Charity means 慈善。
My dear fellow toastmaster friends, do you think charity is far away from us? Let me tell you a story.
Several years ago, a new colleague joined our team, her name is Justine. Justine came back from Germany. Later around one week, our project assistant sent out a newsletter with the new comers' self-introduction - in the hobby part, Justine said she was fond of public welfare and charity.
We had a group dinner on that day. A funny boy from our team talked to Justine, he said: "Hi Justine, I'm so sad that I think we are not living in the same hierarchy in the society, you are playing the charity things but I think I still need some charity from others." We all laughed.
Is charity really far away from us? Let me tell you another story.
I have a good friend called Jennifer. We were schoolmates in the university. She was the class monitor at that time.
Once there was an assignment from our school that every class need to organize a featured activity in the civilization week, in Chinese it's called "文明周特色活动". For most of the classes, they just planned to organize a simple activity to fulfil the task. But for my friend Jennifer, she didn't. At that time, there was a boy from our school who got a terrible disease – leukemia. He need a huge amount of money to take the bone marrow transplant operation. But his family cannot afford that.
Jennifer had a great idea to organize an activity of charity sale. She called our schoolmates to join this activity to sell our unused goods - such as books, clothes and electronic equipment. Then donate 50% of the earnings to that sick boy. The activity was very successful and finally Jennifer collected 5000 RMB. When she gave the money to that boy in the hospital. She saw tears in his eyes. The money was helpful. All efforts are worthwhile.
Is charity far away from us? Let me tell you my own story.
I am a normal office worker without too much money. Can I do charity? The answer is of course YES! In 2011, our company organized an activity to visit a poor primary school in Wa-Fang-Dian, I joined. Our company brought a lot of gifts to the primary school students. For me, I did not only brought a gift but also wrote a long letter to the child who would receive my gift. In the letter, I stated my own growth story and encouraged the child to keep optimistic and strong mind, life will become better and better base on our own efforts. I am just a vivid example. On that day, I gave my gift to a shy little girl. Her father was dead and her mother went away from home, she lived with her grandma. The little girl thanked me in a low and shy voice.
After one year, we got some feedback from that school. On the spreadsheet, I was very happy to see the little girl's performance improved. And I found her smiling face on the photo, grew taller and seemed much brighter. Was this related to my encouragement? Actually I don't know, but I am sure I felt VERY happy at that time.
I don't have too much money but I still can do this kind of charity within my capabilities. Just sending the warmth to one little girl, it is also a kind of charity.
Maybe just because of this warmth, the little girl started to think beyond her current life, about the future, about faith and confidence.
When I look up the word "charity" in the dictionary, it says: charity means a kind and lenient attitude toward people.
So when we offer our seat to an old person on a bus.
When we help our colleague to fix a problem which almost drive him crazy.
When we sincerely smile to people around us.
What are we doing?
Charity is not far away from us. Let's start right here, right now!
