Giving back

As I am now in my early forties approaching middle age (cringing-am I really middle aged?!!) I feel it’s my turn to give back. I have always supported charities and made donations to charitable organisations, sponsored children and given regularly financially and we also sponsor endangered animals as well and we go to charity events and fundraisers all the time (we actually went to one today to support a local treatment center for MS). But I have never been directly involved. Well actually perhaps I have. Several of my clients are registered charities and through working with them, I’ve learned a lot about what they do. I champion their work and give them discounts on the work I do for them. I suppose what I mean is that I’ve never been 100% behind something personally.

I think my desire to give back stems from my early childhood from my parents. They were heavily involved with the re-settlement of thousands of Cambodian refugees in the 1970s. They helped to enable thousands of people; mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters to have a new life in a safe place. Most came with only the clothes on their backs or with very few personal possessions. My parents literally helped to save their lives. We got to know several Cambodian families through this and my mother is still friends with some of the people she helped re-settle. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the impact this had on them nor the severity of the situation in Cambodia. I always thought it was a little over the top the way they loved my parents, my mother in particular and how they lavished her with gifts and invited us over to their parties. They used to come to the house all the time and I remember my mother taking some of our clothes for their children. Now, I understand why they loved my mother and I have a deep respect and appreciation for what my parents did and for who they are. The re-settlement of Cambodian refugees is only one example of what they did and what they do to help others and give back.

I have chosen two charities to support on an ongoing and regular basis. I’ve already spoken before about sponsoring a lunch once a month, helping to feed 900 school children in Tanzania and being the UK Ambassador for The Lunch Project along with Kate Henwood, a fellow business woman. I’m thrilled about this and Kate and I are in the early stages of planning our fundraising events. Last night I attended a London charity dinner for The Hope Academy for Girls in Sierra Leone. This is a wonderful project sponsored by my publisher, client and friend Murielle Maupoint who had invited me to come. I love hearing about “good news” projects and feel incredibly proud to get involved and give back. Murielle is hoping to be able to see the opening of the school in Sierra Leone this September in person, which will begin with 15 at risk girls. To find out more about this charity and also the The Lunch Project, click on the logos below.

So, as it’s Mother’s Day here in the UK, this post is dedicated to my mother, Joanne Peterson. Thank you for showing me how to be kind and generous, loving towards all people, to give back and to help those who are in need. Giving back is just one of the many life lessons I’ve learned from you and now I am passing it down to your grandchildren too.

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Meghan Peterson Fenn is the author of Bringing Up Brits and co-author of Inspiring Global Entrepreneurs with Heidi Mulligan Walker. Meghan is also the Director and Chief Designer at her own design company, White Ochre Design Ltd.  And, she is an award winning expat blogger.