Steem Charity in Action: Give a man some STEEM and you feed him for a day, teach a man Steemit.com and you feed him for a lifetime.
I was really inspired the other day by a steemian turning this platform into real action in the real world and helping real people. He was helping to feed undernourished children in Venezuela.
I think that is awesome, when I see steemit.com changing things in the real world it blows me away. In this case online comments were turning into food for hungry people. It breaks my heart to see what is happening in Venezuela, it was not all that long ago that the country of Venezuela actually provided free and low cost heating oil to people here in New England.
But then I got to thinking:
If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime. (ancient Chinese proverb)
free to share commercially source
Why not empower the people in the community to earn STEEM of their own with Steemit.com? So I asked @bigdude what a computer and internet access would cost. Here is our discussion:
funbobby51 (51) · 3 days ago
God bless you, that is great work, have you considered teaching them to use steemit? Give a man some STEEM feed him for a day, teach a man to use steemit.com and you can feed him for a lifetime or as long as this site lasts.
bigdude (51)
· 3 days ago
The truth is that I would like very much, the only problem is that the 87% of these people who have received aid, do not have the necessary economic resources, live at home that are very humble, and access to a computer, Cell phone with Internet access is something that does not count.
My dream is to be able to help all the people that I can, and to achieve this it is very important the support of all of you, as I said in the comments above a few children. SBD can change the life of a family here in Venezuela, thank you for your support, may God bless you! @funbobby51
funbobby51 (51) · 3 days ago
And may God bless you too my friend, my heart breaks for the people of Venezuela.
how much steem would it take to get a computer with internet access up and running at the school?
bigdude (51)
· 3 days ago
Wow, We are talking about a lot of money, in my country the computers are not economical. @funbobby51
funbobby51 (51) · 2 days ago
maybe not a brand new computer or high speed access, just throw a number out there, let's put the intention into the universe ;)
bigdude (51)
· 18 hours ago
Well friend, a computer used in my country can cost BF 19,000,000 to Bf 25,000,000, (Venezuelan Local Currency) taking the value of the Steem Dollars $ 2.48 SBD would come out in 30 SBD. Approximately!
funbobby51 (51) · 12 hours ago
I feel like we could make thirty SBD happen, how much does internet service cost?
bigdude (51)
· 2 hours ago
Well that depends on the area, maybe near the school have internet and you can rent them or you can buy a BAM internet (Internet device with 2 GB of navigation) could be about 10 SBD.
bigdude (51)
· 2 hours ago
That would be of great help and happiness for those people, you would be opening them or a new world of possibilities! @funbobby51
So $40 SBD is what we need to come up with, that seems doable, here is the plan, I will donate all of the proceeds from this post to the effort, if we can get it up to 35 SBD then I will contribute 5 SBD, here is how you can help make something real happen in the real world with just a few clicks:
- Vote for this post!
- Resteem this post, I don't have enough followers for this effort to be successful but my followers do!
- consider making an earmarked donation or buying some bot votes for this post, if you do that make a comment below about it to inspire others!
- Put a positive intention out into the universe
I think your heart is in the right place my friend. I'd highly recommend, however, that instead of depending on folks you don't know personally, you investigate just setting up internet access yourself, as my experience trusting others to undertake what they say they will has been less than nominal.
Also, cell phones with internet access do count, even if they're not the perfect means of accessing Steemit. By simply adding bluetooth keyboards, they can be much easier to write posts with, and that's a lot less expensive than whole computers.
I have lived in the forest with only cell phone internet, but by linking my laptop I was able to write and post with relative ease, if less often than I might have desired because of limited bandwidth.
My guess is that a lot of folks have phones already, and inexpensive keyboards may well make posting on Steemit far easier for them. Posting from cellphones is already possible. For folks truly without other options, due to their economic situation, that may well be enough, and just recruiting new accounts to Steemit certainly can empower them to earn enough to get their own keyboards they can use with their phones.
The monthly expense of broadband internet can be shared in neighborhoods, so recruitment of new Steemit accounts in locales without extant shared access points, but with service available, might really be of great utility to folks.
The idea I am trying to emphasize is that which you lead with in the post, helping folks to help themselves. Ten kids posting and earning $10/mth each from their posts can easily afford to jointly fund a broadband access point, and help their families out with another meal with meat in it every month too. Helping them to set up shared broadband they fund themselves keeps potential parasites out of the loop, and also prevents dependence on other people whose failure can cause the whole group to suffer.
So, first recruit new accounts to Steemit as a primary goal and endeavor. Once they are posting (and recruiting new accounts from their friends) they can add bluetooth keyboards as desirable, and eventually broadband access points and preferable devices. Certainly initial financial assistance can be beneficial, but dependence on that assistance causes folks to be subject to failures of that assistance. Enabling their independence from outside assistance should be a primary focus of the effort, IMHO.
Thanks!
I would but Venezuela is on the other side of the planet. I agree with all of your points. Thanks for the comment and support.
Yes I know exactly where you are coming from. I called this same group of guys out on another post they made. What it looked more like to me was they were taking food donated by charities and setting it up to look like they were actually buying it by placing steemit signs on the front of the boxes, the way they had the food set up outside was actually how you would stack food to sell at market. I told them it actually looked more like what has been being depicted in the news media as people taking donated food and selling it for quadruple it's value. I called them out on a couple of other things that didn't seem to add up and I must have hit a nerve because they removed all the pictures that seemed incriminating. What some people don't understand is there are good area's in Venezuela and really bad area's where people are literally starving and setting up food as they had depicted outside wouldn't have lasted five minutes. In my opinion what these guys are doing is using these kids to make money off steemit and using donated food from charities to make it look like they are buying this food and donating it. In the pictures these kids are not malnourished nor are the adults, they are all still clean and well dressed. These schools are obviously located in the well off area's of Venezuela, what could be more telling then the fact that they are still buying arts and craft supplies then needing to be buying food.
NEVER IN THE TIME I'M HERE IN STEEMIT IMAGINE THAT I WOULD GIVE A FLAG TO A POST OR COMMENT, BUT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME I DO IT.
NOT WHO YOU ARE, BUT I HAVE A LACK OF RESPECT YOUR COMMENT, HERE IN VENEZUELA THAT GROUP OF BOYS THAT YOU DO CALL LIES! THIEVES, ARE ANGELS OF THE GUARD WHO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HEART AND GIVE EVERYTHING FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED IT , HERE THEY ARE ADVOCATING THE MOST NECESSARY TO MAKE MONEY, NO!
BEFORE MAKING THIS TYPE OF COMMENTS SO THE INTENTIONED SHOULD INVESTIGATE MORE, HERE THE COMMENT THAT IS DONATED, IS NOT GIVEN, HERE WE HAVE TO BUY AT VERY HIGH PRICES, YOU DO NOT KNOW THE SITUATION OF OUR COUNTRY AND YOU THINK THAT FOR US THIS IS A GAME? LET ME SAY NO!
THIS WE DO WITH LOVE, FOR OUR COUNTRY!
I ASK YOU MORE RESPECT! @sunlit7
If they felt what I said didn't depict what was happening in the photos they wouldn't have removed them. Do you really want me to put up photos and articles of people picking through the dumps for food to show I have been informed about what's going on there? Food is being brought in under armed guard because people are so desperate yet you seem to be able to set food stands up outside and there's no one attacking it like they have with the food donations? People can't even get food sent there from friends and relatives through the postal service because it gets stolen before it arrives and you want me to believe you can get your hands on so much food to just give away? People can't even get their hands on the government food bags being handed out yet you had all this food out on display. You had boxes stacked with Steemit stickers, boxes and boxes of food and supplies whereas most people are starving in the streets. Personal hygiene items neatly placed in plastic give away bags...that's reminiscence of how churches and charities pack items that wouldn't be a expense allowed if packed within the country for every penny counts. At the most I will give you the benefit of the doubt as to where you are getting all this food but I won't back off that these are the neediest children in Venezuela right now. Remember flagging works both ways, you going to flag me because you don't like my opinion I can start flagging your articles because I don't agree it's a true representation of what's happening there as far as starving children in need.
Nothing he says has a solid base! It is very easy to attack and say that what I do or other Copatriotas is not real, that we take advantage of the bad situation of others.
Also according to you, we can not buy food boxes here, who told you we can not? Aquila comidad is very expensive, thanks to the price of Steem Dollasrs we can buy large amounts of food or school supplies.
I WILL NOT CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT A PERSON WHO SPEAKS ALONE FOR SPEAKING, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION OF MY COUNTRY, BEFORE CRITICIZING.
When the Man has faith! the world is a small world, since his heart is bigger! @valued-customer
Principle and faith aren't in conflict. If you buy a house from your mother, you still get a deed, after all.
I mean no personal disrespect of you, nor your proposal. I can't since I don't know you =)
However, given the principle that it is best to help people help themselves, and since you are the local contact for this endeavor, you could provide relevant information so that folks wanting to provide help can do so in ways that discourage dependence, and rather empower Venezuelans to create the means they can rely on to lift themselves from poverty.
Dependence on others for security of any kind, whether economic, physical, or for food, creates vulnerability, which only perpetuates the problem faced by Venezuelans disenfranchised by the socialist state.
Being careful to promote independence doesn't prevent being helpful, my friend!
Very Good Night, I respect every word and believe me I am in agreement with what you say and I do not feel that you are lacking about it.
Something that I would like to clarify to the whole community and your person, is that in Venezuela 10 years ago you could do any kind of computer, smart phone or tablet, the salary of the Venezuelan reached for everything, to make market, to buy shoes, clothes and going to the movies.
In the last 2 years the country has fallen in its economy to 1,000% this is crazy, knowing that Venezuela is one of the richest countries in nartural reserves in the world.
I would like to fulfill what you say literally, but unfortunately it is impossible, so that in Venezuela you have the opportunity to buy a used computer, we should save 2 years of our salary.
I have a personal example, at this time I have my wife hospitalized and has not been able to leave since the hospital does not have any type of medication.
With the donations I make, I do not change 100% of their lives to those people, but at least I will give them a big break in their hearts. @valued-customer
I am confident Steemit can help people in Venezuela, since it is a source of a currency other than the Bolivar, while Steem is volative, it isn't depreciating at the horrible rate the Bolivar is.
Are Venezuelans prevented from purchasing from foreign companies? I don't know. It is very sad that so much interference in your lives is undertaken, both by your government, and mine. =/
I am confident that people right here on Steemit will sell used computer equipment for Steem, including shipping. I am ignorant of whether Venezuela will allow you to buy it.
Here in my country, we are all Blocked. I'm sad to say but Venezuela is limited to destruction. A bad economy, you can not get food, or medicines, we are in crisis.
Thanks to steemit, 27% of the community in venezuela with internet is living comfortably. (only a little).
What percentage of people in Venezuela have internet access? What do you mean by 'blocked'? How are goods like toilet paper sourced? Are there manufacturers there, or all supplies imported?
Some information like that would make potential solutions better discussed.
What I mean, is that we do not have the opportunity to buy things that are normal for anyone, such as toothpaste, shampoo, bath soap, since this kind of things no longer produce in Venezuela and when coming from another country They are very expensive.
In Venezuela the internet is very slow, I do not know exactly how many Venezuelans have access to the internet.
why doesnt a cellphone with internet access count? I think it would be even better! You could post pictures here, about your life in Venezuela and people will definitely be interested! You would get money for that!
It's not the same, and a phone is kinda personal. A PC could be used by more people.
And data plans are pretty limited for cell phones.
Good thinking.
It's for a school, I hope that the kids and staff and community could use it to do just that.
Remember that Venezuela isn't an English speaking country, so kids in schools might not know English. Phones could be distributed to people that know english.
I don't know all the prices in Venezuela, but I think that you can get a bunch of cheap phones for the price of one pc. And then just buy a router for wi-fi. If that was the case you could get a bunch more people blogging!
Electronics in general are much more expensive and crappy down there. A phone is easy to "lose" and hard for two or more people to look at at the same time. Once they have wifi then hopefully others will be able to connect with that as well. Thanks for your support and thoughtful comments.
ohh, if that is the case then I guess a pc makes sense. Thank you for your response :)
Hello friend, the truth here in my country is not necessary to speak English to use a phone! I can assure you that a phone can be 10% cheaper than a used computer.
Remember these children and adults do not have a good economy, they are low income and somehow they need some help.
If I had 100 SBD I could help 500 people, I could help 10 families or bring school supplies to 3 schools in my community.
Maybe for some of you 100 SBD is nothing, but here in Venezuela it's a lot of money and we can do many things! @yato
Well, English isn't necessery to use a computer, but it is necessery to use steemit(kinda).
I would love to donate, but for me even 10SBD is a lot of money. But I did upvote and resteem so hopefully it helps at least a bit :)
Thank you very much for that great support, May God always bless you, a hug!
:) you too brother
It's for a school, I hope that the kids and staff and community could use it to do just that.
@funbobby51 this is a beautiful idea. That comment by valued-customer is good one, and if you wanted to try to coordinate with You Are Hope we may be able to get people on the ground who have been screened to help.
I have been pretty impressed by @bigdude who is on the ground there.
A Raspberry Pi would be enough for internet access, they run at about £60 if the school can scrabble up a USB keboard, mouse and HDMI monitor https://thepihut.com/products/raspberry-pi-3-starter-kit?variant=30817948433&gclid=CjwKCAiAxJPVBRB4EiwAsCA4aVWuwX4jJU41aNOSU4ZGRdqI-vwXX_AUbN1TGI1HXt0MvwPwFTasvhoC6m4QAvD_BwE#fo_c=1889&fo_k=accffd44112b0c43afdf952942d34263&fo_s=gplauk
Look at what the Turing Trust are trying to achieve, solar powered classrooms http://turingtrust.co.uk/the-turing-trust-e-library-2/the-solarberry/
our whole budget for this first step is 40 SBD, that item may or may not be available down there. Thank you for your comment and support.
It would also be an excellent educational resource for schoolkids! It's also only half the the cost, so twice as many could be made available for the same effort.
Great idea!
Resteemed. How would I make a donation?
@bigdude
Done: just donated 5 SBD.
awesome, I am down for 5 and at @stevescoins is down for 5 so that's at least 15 which is more than a third! I am going to troll some whales.
Troll away. :-)
Wow!!, this is a big surprise for me! I am grateful for that great love you have had in Donate your Money, You are a man of Honor. This world is full of Guardian Angels, May God bless you my good friend! :) @nxtblg
Highly rEsteemed!
Thanks for your help M'lord!
this is great idea you have a big heart confidently beautiful with a heart
Thanks for your support
your welcome @funbobby51 keep it up
This is cool! I voted and Resteemed. Hope it helps and people get some help they need!
thank you!
thanks @funbobby51 I have a short time here in steemit but I have seen the work that makes @bigdude and it is something great! all the help to the people of my country is appreciated
I hope I can learn to fish too XD
you just made one steem cent my friend. just post something interesting every day and read and make good comments on people's posts and you will do well. I am praying for all of you.
Great work man. Hats off!
Resteemed for visibility. I think you are pretty close to your goal. I sent a @treeplanter vote. That way I'll be helping 2 charities. Please check the out too. They are planting an entire forest!
Excellent, thank you! Yes we are getting very close, only about 5 more SBD for the goal. I'll look into the tree planting initiative.