Do it now!

Use your pen power!

Nikhil Jayadevan

When you set out to do something to make a difference — for example, to eradicate hunger — working solo or with a few friends is not enough. Sometimes it’s necessary to write letters to alert government officials, newspaper editors, local business leaders and producers of television news programmes.

Write what you have learnt about the root causes of the selected problem. Suggest what can be done locally or nationally to mitigate or solve it.

If you write letters or send e-mail, it shows that you care enough to find out about the root causes of a problem. Providing solutions to those in power makes their job easy. Everyone can do with a little help. Influencing elected officials, media heads and company presidents can lead to getting policies changed.

Getting media exposure for your ideas means you will also attract attention to your cause. This will better your chances of winning support for your cause, and possibly prompting new plans and projects to improve people’s lives.
It really isn’t all that difficult to come up with viable solutions for common place problems.

Write to people in positions of authority, offering solutions and bringing issues to light.

You could highlight homelessness, hunger, unemployment, unequal education, environmental protection, wildlife conservation, religious discrimination, the media’s role in educating the public about hunger, etc. Everyone can make an impact and transform into a catalyst for change!

Day for others

A day for others

USA celebrates Make A Difference Day on the fourth Saturday of October every year. The Make a Difference day is set apart for helping others. Comments Sam Daniel, who accords high importance to this day every year, “It’s a day of celebration — an occasion of friends helping friends, neighbours helping neighbours and strangers helping strangers.”

Across the country, millions of people celebrate this day every year. More than 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns across the US. The projects range from big time interventions to small time help. Some people are adventurous and collect truckloads of clothing for the homeless. Others spend the day helping elderly neighbours or sick relatives. Wilton Yogure of California who raised $5,000 for a needy foster home, summarizes the value of this eventful day. “We pass through this world just once. So why not make a difference?’