This is a picture of a woman in South Asia and a water buffalo. If you’ve ever been introduced to the wonderful and wacky world of Veggie Tales, this picture can only bring one song to mind. But the reality is that everyone does not have a water buffalo, including those who really need one.
What do water buffalo and unemployment have to do with each other? Simple. In South Asia, there are thousands upon thousands of desperate men and women who want to provide for their families but cannot. The jobs simply aren’t there. The means to provide do not exist. The ones who do manage to get jobs often find themselves taken advantage of. They work all day, often in dangerous or unhealthy conditions, but are not paid enough to adequately provide for themselves and their children.
A water buffalo is a tool families in South Asia can use to earn the income they need. It’s not extra income; it’s the income necessary to survive. There are all kinds of tools that can help a family like the family of the woman in the picture above. A few chickens, a sewing machine, a pull cart, even a small produce scale (which only costs $10) can make a lifetime of difference in the lives of those desperate to provide for their families.
May I ask you to do me a favor? This Christmas, when you are looking for a special gift for a special someone, or trying to decide what to get for that person who has everything, would you consider giving a gift in their honor to someone who has nothing? If you run an office that receives an abundance of chocolate and treats each year from patrons, consider asking them to instead send a gift that will equip others to work and provide food, medicine, and education for their families. It’s easy. It’s fast. And it produces fruit that will last forever.
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