rachelrae's Blog
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My Causes
- Posted on 08.20.08
Although social media for social good is one of my causes, I do have another. Recently, a friend of mine passed a long a video, The Girl Effect. After watching the video, I thought “Well, what now?” I had recently become involved with a Pilipino-American lifestyle blog, BakitWhy.com. Yes, I am one of those Pilipino-Americans who struggle with identity, trying to mend both the cultures of which I grew up in. I, along, with many other Pilipino-Americans have this undeniable longing to understand our roots, the Phillippines, the homeland of my parent that seems foreign to me. And after watching the video, I thought that it “Wouldn’t it be great to be able to go back to the Phillippines and start a school for girls?” I got excited at this prospect and quickly called my husband, Justin, who had just completed a 7 month tour on one of the poorest islands in the Phillippines, to share the idea. Which got shot down. Quickly. Confused, I asked him why. He explained that that wasn’t what they really needed. That in the area where he was, there were schools, but there were constant terrorist acts destroying or stealing resources from developed buildings. A bigger need for these people was a way to survive. Here in the states, we take for granted so many things like the availability of clean water and medical supplies. Justin said that while people on this island receive supplies, they do not have the knowledge or education in how to properly use them. Just because people receive supplies, does not mean they are used in the ways that would help the people the most. He suggested that perhaps education programs regarding medical procedures or ways to live sustainably would be a way to more effectively help. Then, a school like the one I had envisioned would be possible. And from that day on, it has been my cause to help develop this vision. It will start with Tagalog lessons, then research, then strategic planning. It’ll be a long road, but it is one that is worth it. And it all started with a video that was passed to me through a Facebook wall comment. This, along with social media for social good, are my causes.
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I LOVE The Girl Effect Video. Here's a link for anyone who hasn't seen it: http://www.youtube.com/user/girleffect
Love your blog Rachel! Write more!