“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
For the past few years—right before the launch of another APERTURE EFFECT—I go through severe bouts of fear and get harassed by a thousand darts of doubt.
Do you really want to do this thing again? Isn’t it just too damn hard? When are you going to find the time? Surely people are beyond tired of the same, old ask for the same, old need. And is a few thousand bucks really going to make a dent in a problem this big? Do others really care? Do I even care?
Almost up to the last second before going live, I wrestle with the thought of pulling the plug on the whole thing—assuming no one will even miss its very existence. And maybe most won’t. After all, there are many other worthy causes out there to get behind.
But the one’s who will miss its existence are the ones who don’t even it know exists.
The moms who have literally broken their backs to collect undrinkable liquid from miles away. The kids who have not once tasted a drop of clean water, but still spend hours in search of it—all the while missing out on any formal education. The families who toss and turn all night, with their bodies fighting against the diseases they just ingested.
They’ll be the ones missing out on any hope for a new future.
And so I speak back to my fears and my doubt:
• Do you really want to do this thing again?
Yes, for the 1 in 10 around the world living without clean water.
• Is it just too damn hard?
Yes, in my western privileged world it is. But it pales in comparison to what any of the 663 million people experience each day.
• When are you going to find the time?
I find time for many luxuries during a month, so I can find the time for this.
• Surely people are surely beyond tired of the same, old ask for the same, old need.
Perhaps, but until nobody on earth dies from dirty water, the fight must continue.
• And is a few thousand bucks really going to make a dent in a problem this big?
As that Margaret Mead quote reminded me recently, a small group can do large things.
• Do I even care?
Yes, I do.
And every year, you all show me you care too.
Over the past four years, THE APERTURE EFFECT has raised over $16k for charity: water—helping to build wells in several developing countries around the world. And while that amount astounds me, the more impressive figure to me is 508—the number of people who’ve been given access to clean water since 2012 just through our little band of givers.
Let’s get the band back together again and keep changing our world.