I with my colleague Meera, I have been running a 3-year fund-raising campaign named the “Sampanna (fulfilling) Campaign” (April 2011 – March 2014) for Tewa – Nepal Women’s Fund which has a goal to raise US $ 900000. Within this campaign, we built an equally ambitious plan of raising at least a US $ 100000 from fellow Nepalis living in Nepal. Besides raising money, the campaign has many other facets of infrastructure building, promoting, and managing. Soon coming to a close, we can say that the Sampanna Camppaign will meet more than what we initially set out to do.
During this period each time I gathered with like-minded Nepali friend/s requesting them for their support, I am reminded of a few learning along my practice path – or the campaign trail. The practice of philanthropy at least to me has been a very personal and an intimate act. In the process I have had to inevitably confront personal insecurities and challenges, personal politics of being committed to the movement for equity and justice and therefore women, in my case; even more – of wanting to be more authentic as a person; and having to deal unexpectedly with my attitudes and biases which I felt I had already done with in the past. All this got me to plan and scheme every day – not only on how I could raise more money from others, but also on how I could personally give more. During this journey of running the Sampanna Campaign, did I push myself to the limits I could? I do not yet know – but I feel I did try.
I feel that any sustained practice of philanthropy can also be a very spiritual journey where one will be compelled to trust, reflect, and introspect. I learned that one needed to feel the issues one cares for at the raw. Recently a Nepali woman went on a anti corruption ‘fast into death’ hunger strike for 13 days before there was a safe landing for her and she could break the fast. So many of us are against corruption, but hardly do we feel it so deeply as to be able to act in such a profound way as Sarada Bhusal Jha did risking her own life!
I learned that an authentic purpose driven practice of philanthropy can help liberate us from FEAR. This will enable us to take bigger risks than what we were capable of earlier. I learnt that the perceived risks are actually minimal – for what goes around can only come around. Therefore philanthropy can be a very liberating journey both for the heart and the hand!
Rita is the founder of Nagarik Aawaz, an initiative for conflict transformation and peace building in Nepal, where she previously founded and led Tewa – Nepal Women’s Fund.