Change the world

Change the world

My No.2 son is embarking on a life changing journey.  Here in Ireland we have an optional “transition year” in secondary school.  It takes the focus off exams and gives students the opportunity to explore subjects, occupations and activities that may influence their life choices.  One focus is on voluntary work and charity giving.  It is great to see education that focuses on what you can do for society rather than racing blindly into a career path.

One of the greatest things you can become is a philanthropist.  Some start small and early.  Others take many years to understand that giving away your money makes you far happier than accumulating it.  Chuck Feeney followed in the steps of great American philanthropists such as John D. Rockerfeller and George Eastman.  Initially Feeney stayed in the shadows, secretly channeling his money through Atlantic Philanthropies.

Then Feeney had a revelation.  He realised that he could achieve more by using his position and his example to stimulate philanthropy in other billionaires.  So he went public and in the process he set an example for Bill Gates.  When Bill and Melinda set up their foundation it convinced Warren Buffet.  Giving is like a contagious disease, one that makes the givers feel great.

So I am glad to see my son step down the path of philanthropy in his own small way.  A tender sapling like this needs to be supported and nurtured and fed and watered.  If you would like to follow his journey he will post his progress on his own blog:  Gavin’s Kolkata Blog

If you would like to take your interest a step further and do a little of the feeding and watering then his charity crowd funding site is here:

Gavin’s Crowd Funding Donation Site

If you would like to help but don’t have the funds at present, a share, a forward, a comment, even a like helps keep things going.  But don’t “Like” my page, go over and like his 🙂