In Jessica Jackly's TED talk, she casts a new light on the 'poor' members of society and what it means to give back to them. She explains that as a child she was always told that the poor people needed money and material items and that she was expected to give to them. However, Jessica was also told that no matter how many things we could provide them, we would always live among the poor. At a young age, I could relate to the way she explains this and understand the burden that she felt to be a contributing member even though she didn't understand WHY she needed to give back. The things she heard as a kid made her picture a never-ending line of needy people with open hands begging for food. No wonder she felt overwhelmed. Through her young life, even though she continued to give openly on the outside, she never felt the hope of giving or did it out of the true generosity of her heart. Like many of us feel, we give back because we feel obligated or we pay some money so we won't be bothered. As if we are buying our right to carry on with our day. Luckily, through stories, Jackly made it her goal to change people's perspectives on giving back and the poor themselves. This ties in perfectly with the message that Dan Pink is trying to send us. Story is essential in life and has the ability to persuade and connect with people emotionally. I agree with the point that Pink and Jackly are making. Story, if used strategically, can be so powerful and can change people's perceptions. It has the ability to captivate a person's soul and give them the motivation to act a certain way. Stories appeal emotionally and logically in the way that a crafted set of events can bring an audience to their feet or make people weep. In Jackly's case, she believes that stories and the way people participate in them are very important. She was motivated by a speech that Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, gave about the smart, capable, hardworking poor that were doing great things. He said that with even a little more money support, they could conquer even greater goals. Jackly was so taken aback that she quit her job and moved to East Africa out of curiosity and ready to explore. She spent three months interviewing poor entrepreneurs that were given only $100 to grow businesses and heard life changing stories. The humbling experience taught her showed her the beautiful details of life. She noticed that as she spent time with these impoverished individuals, she had never been asked for a donation and that the very little money they made went to good causes like buying sugar so they could serve her tea properly. Through such a gratifying experience, she felt that it was her mission to share stories of the people she met and the hope they gave her. She launched a website called Kiva that featured 7 of the starving entrepreneurs with pictures, stories about them, and ways to give to them. Kiva is based on writing loans to the entrepreneurs and having them pay back the supporters by the success of their businesses. With the support of Jackly's family and friends, money came in and their businesses grew. However year after year, Kiva became more and more successful. The site has now raised 150 million dollars for the entrepreneurs. The reason for its success? Stories. Jessica Jackly's goal is to retell stories of the poor and change the way people view giving back. I love that she had the guts to quit her job and go searching for an answer. The only way to fully understand something is to experience it firsthand. This summer, I am going on a mission trip to Nicaragua to help out in an orphanage. But honestly, the main reason that I signed up is not to help the people of the community, but to develop a new outlook. I want to get outside my own wealthy suburban community and recognize the needs and lifestyles of other people. I think that as soon as I am immersed in another place, I am going to be that much more motivated to give back on a personal level. I want to connect with the kids, play with them, pray with them, and be a part of their community. To me, it will mean so much more than sending money or throwing my change in a donation jar. I believe that it is important for individuals to have a personal journey to understand the lives of the poor. However, no one can tell anyone else to do this. One must be intrinsically motivated to make a change. A quote by William Blake states that, “The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind,” ("Change"). To believe passionately in giving back one must experience the suffering and need of others. I love Kiva's goal because it validates the dignity of the poor and promotes hope and optimism through storytelling. They aim to blur the lines between 'us' and 'them' and the 'haves' and 'have nots'. Just as Dan Pink says in A Whole New Mind, story has that power.
Works Cited
"Change Quotes, Sayings about Changes and Changing." The Quote Garden - Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. Web. 05 May 2011. <http://www.quotegarden.com/change.html>.
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