A lot of people and businesses find it hard to take time out for doing things like charity work and team-building weekends. Its considered a luxury, and so it is as well, but it doesn't have to be. What if your job, just going about your daily business could help others? What if you could do something you love and see new results?

This is one of the basic ideas behind The Light Project- delegating what people have to spare and making charitable work exciting. Any hobby can be useful to someone, any interest could inspire an idea in someone else and any knowledge can be passed on.

I could go on and on all day but to make my point clearly, have a look at these guys. They make toys, they love it, and they are doing good with it.

That's the spirit! :)

http://www.squishable.com/s/charity

As He moved me

It's been a while since I've taken time out to write something here but these last few days the world has moved underneath my feet and I have to share it, I have to tell.

Some time ago, about a week, I went to Preston to meet the founder of White Knight, a company that does a very broad kind of financial advise, everything to new training and networking to cost analysis and advice. I hope that I could become part of their portfolio, part of what they offer the businesses when they help them. But higher powers had different plans for me

Saturday I spent 7 hours talking to R.Walsh, the founder, and we shared a very special day.He is a wonderful man, very wise and in full connection with God, as well as being an extremely capable business man. And for one reason or the other he really likes me. Unlike most men I have met this week, most of which pay more attention to my skirt or cleavage, he cares only for what I have to offer as a person. I'm hard working, out going, inventive, capable and a fast learner. In addition I know my stuff and if I don't I go find it gladly. And he sees all that, and more potential than anyone I've ever met. We share many views about religion as well, we both would like it to be a major part  in our lives, but still do business to earn money. Fact is that being wealthy enables you immensely, and the sooner you realize the more focused you can be. However, I would not go for the money, secretly being a bohemian, but for what I can do with it and I think many feel disappointed, thinking money in it self is going to make you happy when what you spend it on is just as essential as actually getting it.

And so I feel like I'm bursting, like the world is moving beneath my feet to give room for this new oath that have appeared in front of me and I don't really know how to celebrate enough. Honestly, I have lost a lot of friends and pissed off a lot of family by being who I am, whether that is having hope or simply getting results from hard work, but in this job it will finally pay off to be me, in every single way and I think I will grow and develop to a whole new level given the opportunity.

Many shy away from talk of God, especially if they don't believe themselves, but fact is I would not be anything like me without my sturdy faith. My confidence is not in my own person you see, its in the powers behind me, then ones that enable me and bless me with opportunity. That's why you could ask me anything and I will say I can do it. I will win a Nobel Peace prize and I will make a difference. The day I'm right I will put my hands up and tell the world where it all came from. I'm a vessel, a tool, a great one at that and I will never stop being grateful for my gifts and chances to succeed. Now I will work hard but not stress, I will try but put my faith in higher powers and find some way to share it all with everyone around me

If there is anything I can do for you then let me know and I will gladly put in a good word ;)

Oh,and hearing Jason Mraz' "I'm yours" from a Christian perspective gives the song a whole different depth. I recommend it

x

Introduction to the Light Project

Welcome to the Light Project and my blog! This is the first so I will outline the goals and ideas behind my project for everyone to know

I built the Light Project on a few ideas I had in a moment of clearness, at a time in my life I felt like I needed to find some goal to work towards. I'm sure you know the kind, where you ask yourself- what do I want to do? What skills do I have? What do I like doing? What could I make a living from? What do I want to leave behind when I'm done? What do I want to influence?

I'm not one to put down small goals, I go for the big ones, not getting disappointed if I don't get there, but just to make sure I push myself all the way. With my new one I don't think that's going to be a problem- I'm gonna win a Nobel Peace Prize 

On the way I will advertise a way of raising money in the development world that does not include making people feeling guilty. Anyone with a little bit of experience with the recipients of aid will know that pity is not what people struck by poverty needs.It won't help to feel bad, to see the videos of big-eyed children and plastic cups of water. I am NOT at all saying that the work being done by the organizations that use this kind of promotion for their causes is not good. It's great, most of it's very useful and well thought through.I support the work and especially the workers, I just don't agree with the way the money for that work is collected

So the Light Project will not be showing that kind of footage. We will, and are, approaching people differently. For individuals it will be through selling products from Tanzania (the country I chose to support after major research), inviting you along to gigs, art exhibitions, markets, auctions and any other event to raise money in a fun and exciting way. The information about our work will be completely focused on the great solutions out there to battle effects and causes of extreme poverty, like insecticide bed nets to prevent malaria (90% in Tanzania are infected).No dying children or crying parents, you know they exist out there, but honest information about how to help them.If you are interested that is

Now for businesses I have something else to offer, which leads to the career that I am trying to build for myself. I want to help any business, branch or group to do something a bit more exciting than pass around a bucket at Christmas (no offense, its nice, but only patches up your guilt for a little bit). What about everyone bringing something from the attic and having a little auction on a monday night? Or getting a band together from the staff and having a informal gig at the local pub? Or maybe something bigger- like putting products from Tanzania in your shop? Or having a ball? Easter egg hunt? I have a million and one ideas, which means I can tailor any business something they are comfortable with, but that will no matter what create a great work environment and a sense of accomplishment, as well as supporting great causes. Might even do a brand or chain some good to be connected to an ethical cause, we all like that don't we? 

This might seem like a weird way to go for the Nobel Peace. Check out this winner and get back to me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfinance

This idea won one, and for good reason. Desperate people do desperate things, conflict erupts far more easily in countries that are all ready struggling. Nothing like death, starvation and illness to fuel the fire of any angry and frustrated person.

If you would like to join me, or just comment, please do.At the moment I have a great team working at the Lancaster University,UK and we are raising money to get four of us down to Tanzania in september, helping Neema Crafts to get their products into the UK market

http://www.neemacrafts.com/

Let me help you to share what you have to spare (Nice and cheesy right)

H.Magdalena