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Individuals Paying It Forward |
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| My
story began when a young Ghanaian man instant messaged me on yahoo.
We became fast friends and I knew right away there was something special
about him. Ghana is a poverty stricken country located in West Africa.
The average annual income is a mere $450 a year. My friend Stephen
never let on to me about his situation. I practically had to pry it
out of him how life was such a struggle for him and his family. I
wanted to help him so I started out sending him $20 every payday.
He was always very appreciative and it helped with food. Then Stephen
broke his leg. He tried to walk around with a broken leg for several
weeks when finally I insisted he see a doctor at my expense. I am
a middle income child care provider but never did I feel my money
was put to better use than helping out Steve and his family. Steve's
leg eventually healed. I have been sending him money for quite some
time to help out when family members were hospitalized with malaria,
for malaria immunizations, for Steve to go to a computer training
school and other things. Although my family and I sometimes struggle
to make ends meet, it seems the money was always there to help Steve
and we have actually made headway in financial stability. Steve was
always so grateful but he felt bad knowing that he would never be
able to pay me back. I remembered the movie Pay It Forward and that
is what I told him to do. I told him when he was in a situation that
he could help somebody else, then he should do it. That would be my
thank you. That is exactly what he did.
Steve has used some of my money to help pay medical expenses for others. He has donated to the local orphanage. He has set up a non-profit organization called The Prestige Network of Peace, Development and Intercultural Exchange ( www.pnopdie.4t.com ) that is dedicated to stopping female circumcisions, developing talent in young people, and helping street children have a better life for themselves. Just yesterday he surprised me by telling me that he had saved enough money (by practically starving himself) to rent a place for seven young men, who were living on the street. I was amazed and so proud of him. Hopefully the message will continue and these people that he is helping will also pay it forward. Becky Groves |
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