So, this is probably going to be dimissed by many as another attention whoring thread, since I am a narcissistic sociopath and whatnot, but I have been thinking recently about getting my hands a bit dirty with something charitable. I am actually thinking of something more than just writing a check, and would like to actually dedicate some of my time (say 1-2 hours a week or so) to helping others.
Has anyone been doing (or knows someone who is doing something similar) and can give some tips? I am really just looking for an inspiration or an idea. And I fully recognise that I may end up giving up after I try and get bored...
Do you have the equivalent of the Cats Protection League? Avoids all that dealing with humans nonsense.
More seriously, do something that means something to you, like something a friend or relative had to deal with. It'll stop you quitting too soon.
Or something like Good Gym where you get a workout too. https://www.goodgym.org/how_it_works (https://www.goodgym.org/how_it_works)
http://www.trump.com/charities/
What's worked for me is finding ways to leverage my skills to do charitable stuff. I.e., I have helped writing copy for charity campaigns and such, helping them promote what they do, participated in storytelling sessions for underprivileged children, etc... I find it pretty fulfilling.
You were an M&A lawyer, right? Not sure how we could apply your knowledge in this area... :hmm: Help Doctors Without Borders take over the Red Cross?
If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis. It takes an hour or two every two months.
If you're willing to do something that isn't remotely sexy, but also makes a tremendous difference, go investigate volunteering at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. It's not cute cats or orphans, but rather mostly a bunch of smelly older men, but talk about people who need help.
If you're literally looking to get your hands dirty, and don't mind working with tools or outside then Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/where-we-build/poland) is a good place to start.
QuoteThere is a serious housing shortage with Poland having the lowest rate in Europe of number of homes for its population (1000:360), according to the national statistics. The deficit of housing units is between 600,000 and 1.5 million.
What the hell Poland? You would think all your plumbers and doctors leaving for the UK would have cleared up some homes.
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2016, 11:20:26 AM
If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis. It takes an hour or two every two months.
Ehm, he may not be able to.
Work pro bono as a lawyer for some poor minority or so.
Quote from: derspiess on June 10, 2016, 11:47:13 AM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2016, 11:20:26 AM
If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis. It takes an hour or two every two months.
Ehm, he may not be able to.
Fuck. Didn't even think of that. :frusty:
Although according to wiki, he can! :yeah:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Poland
Another vestige of straight privilege (free cookies and soda) taken away :angry:
If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.
Quote from: The Brain on June 10, 2016, 12:03:58 PM
If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.
I ratehr suspect that poor Poles don't need the help of a M&A lawyer.
And while anybody can hand out soup to the homeless, very few people actually do so.
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2016, 12:08:28 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 10, 2016, 12:03:58 PM
If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.
I ratehr suspect that poor Poles don't need the help of a M&A lawyer.
And while anybody can hand out soup to the homeless, very few people actually do so.
I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, he might know stuff about other parts of law as well.
If he wants soup to be handed out I rather suspect that Mart'd be better off working those hours as a lawyer and pay X number of Poles to do the handing. Unless it's all about how Mart feels and not about helping others in which case my advice is void as I said.
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2016, 11:51:29 AM
Quote from: derspiess on June 10, 2016, 11:47:13 AM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2016, 11:20:26 AM
If you want something relatively 'easy', but that can make a marked difference in people's lives, start donating blood on a regular basis. It takes an hour or two every two months.
Ehm, he may not be able to.
Fuck. Didn't even think of that. :frusty:
Although according to wiki, he can! :yeah:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Poland
Actually, I had hepatitis (the non-bad type) so I can't either way. :P
Quote from: Savonarola on June 10, 2016, 11:23:01 AM
If you're literally looking to get your hands dirty, and don't mind working with tools or outside then Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/where-we-build/poland) is a good place to start.
That's actually one of my favourite suggestions so far (but thanks to everyone - many others are good too). :)
I am actually looking for something that is:
1) not something I do on the daily basis
2) possibly involves physical work
3) is not just donating money
I am also not the most empathetic person (or rather, I have empathy but I am shy/have hard time sharing with people), so a hospice or something like that may be hard (not that I did not consider that).
Quote from: Martinus on June 10, 2016, 10:58:11 AM
So, this is probably going to be dimissed by many as another attention whoring thread, since I am a narcissistic sociopath and whatnot, but I have been thinking recently about getting my hands a bit dirty with something charitable. I am actually thinking of something more than just writing a check, and would like to actually dedicate some of my time (say 1-2 hours a week or so) to helping others.
Has anyone been doing (or knows someone who is doing something similar) and can give some tips? I am really just looking for an inspiration or an idea. And I fully recognise that I may end up giving up after I try and get bored...
Look up local groups and attend their meetings, ideally their sponsored Happy Hours or dinners.
Quote from: Brazen on June 10, 2016, 11:07:08 AM
Do you have the equivalent of the Cats Protection League? Avoids all that dealing with humans nonsense.
More seriously, do something that means something to you, like something a friend or relative had to deal with. It'll stop you quitting too soon.
Or something like Good Gym where you get a workout too. https://www.goodgym.org/how_it_works (https://www.goodgym.org/how_it_works)
The Habitat actually helped a friend (she is a a single mother nurse with a kid who used to be very sick but now is growing up fine), so I may hit them, actually. I guess it depends if I stay in Poland or move to France.
Plus building homes has some sort of appeal I did not consider before but it speaks to me. You are actually creating stuff. There is apparently a project coming up in Poland in August - and now that I think of it, it's a cool opportunity to travel the world if I decide to join one of the non-domestic initiatives.
Thanks, Sav!
There must be all kinds of non-profits out there that can use your assistance.
Quote from: The Brain on June 10, 2016, 12:14:15 PM
Quote from: Barrister on June 10, 2016, 12:08:28 PM
Quote from: The Brain on June 10, 2016, 12:03:58 PM
If you really want to help people use your professional skills (such as they are) to help a worthy cause. Don't find yourself handing out soup to the homeless or something like that, any Pole can do that stuff.
I ratehr suspect that poor Poles don't need the help of a M&A lawyer.
And while anybody can hand out soup to the homeless, very few people actually do so.
I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, he might know stuff about other parts of law as well.
If he wants soup to be handed out I rather suspect that Mart'd be better off working those hours as a lawyer and pay X number of Poles to do the handing. Unless it's all about how Mart feels and not about helping others in which case my advice is void as I said.
The Brain is wise. :yes:
I have been working tirelessly on the Monoriu Retirement Fund.
Quote from: DGuller on June 10, 2016, 12:42:31 PM
The Brain is wise. :yes:
Yeah, why not Legal Aid/pro bono attorney work? You don't have to be an expert on the field of law in question -- just having someone in a suit who knows a vague bit of the to represent you, versus having nobody and knowing absolutely nothing of the law, can make a huge difference.