As we close 2021, I'd love to share with you a story from an investor that gives a wonderful picture of the change we are seeing in our community.
"On my first visit to Dignity in 2014, I was amazed by the unchanged beauty and lifestyle of the remote coastline and villages. Everywhere I looked was either coconut trees or rice paddies.
That's when I saw my first Carabao (keh·ruh·bau) and its boy. The Carabao is the Philippines‘ water buffalo, and on small farms, it is their tractor, truck, and more. But what caught my attention about them was tethered to a young boy.
It wasn’t clear whether the Carabao or the boy was in charge. If they were moving, either one might be in the lead. If they were still, it was fun to see where the boy would be.
I saw boys sitting, lying, and even standing on their Carabaos’ backs; laying and sitting under them in their shadows; and leaning against a leg like it was a backrest. I thought water buffalo were dangerous, but these were always very close and tethered to young boys.
I don’t recall seeing one without its boy.
On my last visit, I was jogging in the morning and heard an unusual bellowing sound I had not heard before. Trees and a hill hid the source of the sound until I was right next to it: a Carabao.
It was staked to the ground with a 15-foot rope. It was bellowing loudly, straining hard against the rope, and looping back and forth in a half-circle while its eyes locked on something in the distance.
I looked in the direction the Carabao was focused and saw a school about a quarter of a mile away. I traced the well-worn path through the rice paddies and sure enough, there was a young boy on his way to school.
I don’t know if it was the Carabao’s boy, butitsure thought so. I've seen many pet dogs distressed over their boy leaving the house, but none compared to this.
My immediate response was sadness until I realized the boy couldn’t go to school unless he left his Carabao.And increased educational attainment was one of the community’s key transforming achievements.
The intentionally empowering work of organizations, including Dignity, and many other factors, including Carabao temporarily giving up their boys for school, are contributing to the
ongoing transformation of the community.
And I bet that Carabao was as excited as any pet dog would be when the boy returned, but I can’t even imagine what that would look like. Can you?"
-Shawn M, Dignity Coconuts
I'd like to personally extend my gratitude for your role in transforming communities in the Philippines in 2021. Kids are receiving education, families are staying together, physical health is improving, chains of slavery are breaking, and hope is rising.
117 billion. This is the estimate of people who lived since the beginning of time. That’s a lot! Imagine the history, the events, and stories all these people could tell. And with the wealth of knowledge that has been passed on from generation to generation, it’s quite puzzling how history still tends to repeat itself - especially with oppression and injustice. Though in different forms, it is found in every era.
In an effort to be a good Dad, I made my kids eat oatmeal when they were little. I was so proud of myself - but it didn’t last long. Once they discovered other breakfast foods, it was over. I wanted to dig in my heels, but the problem is oatmeal is bland and boring. Even the mascot is an old man with a wig! Pretty soon, even the mention of oatmeal and my kids think they are being punished.
I used to think that Hawkeye was a terrible Avenger. How is this guy with no superpowers going to last one minute against a villain with super human abilities, let alone help fight. Thanks to the new series, he has come to be my favorite because I can relate to him. No flying, no super speed, and no super strength. He's simply a guy who mastered skills to solve the world’s problems (yes, and he has a few cool trick arrows).
