Doing More

[Nicole Donnelly]

I have devoted this week to two major goals: Devoting my time to CauseUP that would normally be spent on Facebook, hoping to bring in new members; and better informing myself about the countries I wish to help and the options for doing so. One thing I am reading currently involves microfinance. I made a loan through Kiva.org and along with 175 others we loaned $5000 to a woman in Congo who now sells lamp oil to feed her family. Her first repayment was due this month and she was able to pay 8% of her loan! It is inspiring to see the difference made by something as simple as my $25. Yesterday, I watched 3 amazing documentaries on the country of Sudan emphasizing the conflict in Darfur. My eyes were opened to the horrors that are occuring there as we speak. Although I knew of this conflict, and even that it involved unimaginable crimes, I was completely shocked and saddened by the new footage. "Darfur Now", "Darfur Diaries", and "The Devil Came on Horseback." If you have a chance to watch any of these, you should take it.