How we can make a difference

It starts with a question and a small act of kindness

With so much uncertainty and suffering going on in the world, it’s difficult to see how we, as individuals, can make a difference.

Having become increasingly disheartened with the unfolding human disasters that we continue to inflict on ourselves, in an effort to try and do something, I’ve devoted more of my time to volunteering in recent years.

I’ve worked with several charities undertaking various roles here in the UK and abroad.

I’m fortunate because I can. My family’s grown-up. I have time, reasonable health and a few skills acquired along a Jack of all trades’ career path stretching back over four decades.

With the help of family; friends; colleagues; and always to my astonishment, complete strangers, during this time, not insignificant sums have been raised for children’s charities, the homeless, refugees and other overlooked groups across society.

Of course, it doesn’t solve these issues, but I’ve seen how it can make a positive and lasting difference. These are the occasions that make the effort worthwhile.

In addition to fundraising, my own practical volunteering has included mentoring disadvantaged young people; shifting one night a week at a homeless shelter for 14 months; carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine and transporting displaced refugees across Europe.

Heart-breaking

During the past 18-months in particular, I’ve seen what it’s like for people who’ve had everything in their lives ruthlessly wrenched from them and the trauma they’ve been left to live with.

It’s heart-breaking to witness and changes your perspective on life. It’s certainly changed mine.

There will always be those we can’t help despite our best efforts and the sheer frustration and sense of hopelessness this implants within us can be difficult to reconcile.

Having said that, I believe we should never stop trying to do something to help — To do our best.

Our best is good enough. It can make a difference and, crucially, it can inspire others.

Among the things I’ve learned during this time, one of the most heartening is the value of even the smallest acts of kindness and thoughtfulness and the domino effect these can have on others.

This can work in the smallest ways. It might simply be offering a cheery ‘good morning’ to a stranger you pass in the street. We don’t know what hardships others may be carrying with them.

While out this morning, I was approaching a rather surly-looking and preoccupied individual coming from the opposite direction, head down and clearly well-practiced in the art of avoiding eye contact.

In the brief seconds as we drew towards each other, I summoned a chirpy ‘good morning’. This simple and unexpected greeting prompted an immediately raised head, a hasty matching response… and the merest smile. Job done.

A bit of benevolence

Before my fellow early morning-walker was out of earshot, without any prompting, I was interested to hear him extend a somewhat reluctant ‘morning’ to another passer-by.

Perhaps they knew each other. But, perhaps my greeting had kindled a tiny bit of benevolence that may not otherwise have been forthcoming. I like to think it made a difference… The domino effect.

On an altogether different scale, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year and the horrors that began arising immediately from it, you could be forgiven for thinking: ‘What can I possibly do that will make a difference?’

Rather than asking the question in a way that suggests we can’t do anything, it just needs re-phrasing and simplifying into: ‘What can I do to help?’

That’s the question I asked myself.

At about the same time, a small group of Dutch friends were asking the same question. They pooled their skills, time and money to arrange the logistics to take a minibus with supplies to the Ukraine border and bring back a handful of homeless refugees.

From this one act of human kindness, Fastlane Ukraine was formed and the subsequent mobilisation of volunteers, support and fundraising from ordinary individuals has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Scores of volunteers from all over the world started stepping forward to undertake more than 250 similar trips across Europe under the Fastlane banner.

While a shortage of funds and domestic commitments here in the UK have temporarily curtailed my volunteering on the road for Fastlane, I’ve been co-ordinating the recruitment of other volunteers in recent months.

Ordinary people are prepared to step forward. They want to help and make a difference. I’ve witnessed it and many positive outcomes that would otherwise have not been possible.

Back to safety

On learning about the work of the Dutch foundation, Tim Rea from Nelson, New Zealand, got in touch and asked me how he could help. Having witnessed the inhumanity on the news, he said he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Determined to do something, Tim flew from the other side of the world to Europe at the beginning of July. He purchased a nine-seater passenger van in Germany with cargo capacity and spent the next three-months working with volunteers at Fastlane, at his own expense.

During this time, he and his co-drivers carried out more than ten trips, clocking up 35,000 kilometres, transporting tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and bringing nearly 70 refugees back to safety.

Tim returned to his family earlier this month after donating his vehicle to another foundation in Krakow, Poland in order that it could continue its valuable work for the people of Ukraine following his departure.

Many others, like Tim, have stepped forward. Such selfless and inspiring acts of human kindness and caring, demonstrate that we can make a difference.

Through the efforts of this one small organisation and its volunteers, hundreds of tonnes of humanitarian aid have been transported across Europe and into Ukraine and many hundreds of desperate and traumatised refugees have been given a safe haven during the continuing conflict.

While a shortage of funds has prompted the temporary suspension of Fastlane’s voluntary work for the time being, volunteers like Tim and many others demonstrate that we can make a difference.

Small acts of kindness can create a domino effect that builds into something extremely worthwhile and that would otherwise not be possible.

Every one of us can make a difference in our world.

It starts with a question.

What can I do to help?