Get Involved: Where the Roads Meet (by Joanna Chiu)
Three years ago, as I was wading through the turbulent waters in transition from childhood to adulthood, I began to recognize many injustices and inequalities that had previously gone unnoticed. The more I learned, the more I felt a need do something to help--but what? I was merely a fifteen-year-old girl living in the suburbs.
I was at a loss for ideas. Out of desperation, I wrote a letter to Amy Richards, co-author of Manifesta, a book that gives young feminists tools with which to work towards global equality. I asked Amy, "How can I help?" Amy encouraged me to "think of other things I enjoy and think about bringing [my] consciousness to them." Instead of giving me a quick and easy answer, she made me realize that in order to become part of the force towards alleviating human suffering, I need to discover what my talents and passions are. This is no simple task.
On September 23rd, 2005, I had the chance to meet two remarkable young women who, in talking about their own journeys, inspired me to continue on mine. Eileen Higgins and Salimah Ebrahim are two of the many young activists who came together to support War Child's "Keep the Beat" benefit concert at the James Cowan Theatre in Deer Lake, Burnaby. They used their unique talents to help make the evening of music and inspiration a brilliant success.
When I caught up with Eileen, The Higgin's lead vocalist, during intermission, she immediately made me feel at ease with her genuine smile and good sense of humour. In our search for a quiet respite from the buzz of the crowd that was hyped up on music, she unknowingly tried to lead me into the men's washroom. Eileen laughed. Although she knew her band could have been playing somewhere else for more money, she was more than happy to support the concert to raise awareness about children affected by war: "Because of the culture being the way it is, musicians do have an effect on people…if we can share what we think is important through our music and people can accept it, then that's a good thing."
Even though Eileen, her older brother John, and her younger sister Kathleen have always loved making music, they did not pursue their dream of forming a country/rock group until John gave the Higgins family a scare. I would have never guessed from watching his spirited performance that just a few years ago, John broke his back. Today, he has "one less kidney and has no feeling in one leg." It took a brush with death to spur the Higgins to live. While doing what they enjoy, they succeed in making a positive influence on others. Eileen loves "connecting to an audience and making people happy."
Salimah Ebrahim also loves connecting to an audience, but instead of using music, she uses words. At the age of 22, she left her comfortable home in Vancouver to become a Middle East war correspondent during the Baghdad bombings. Another young journalist with similar talent but less passion might have felt satisfied making coffee at a local newspaper office. Not Salimah. Age is not a factor when a person is courageous enough to go after his or her dreams.
After the intermission at the benefit concert, Salimah told the audience a story about a young Iraqi boy whom she met while on assignment in Baghdad. A poster Salimah showed him of British Columbia's endangered Spirit Bear amidst a precious rainforest entranced the boy who was wearing flimsy clothes and sitting in the middle of a war zone. The little boy will probably never see the rainforest or the white bear, but he "dared to care" nonetheless. He shocked Salimah by asking her, "How can I help?"
As a Canadian with a comfortable and easy lifestyle, my asking of the very same question at fifteen is not extraordinary. All of my basic needs are fulfilled. I have access to endless resources and in this country, young voices resound louder than adult voices. In the three years since asking Amy how I can help, I have educated myself more and have been involved in various non-profit projects. I only regret not asking the question sooner.
Self-discovery is not a passive act. Eileen Higgins and Salimah Ebrahim do not spend their days curled up in a dark corner pondering what they can do to help others. They just go out and help, using whatever talents they have. Mark Masongsong, organizer of the War Child concert, encapsulated the secret to success in two simple steps:
- Get involved
- Don't stop
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