Thank you for being part of the second edition of Buy1GIVE1Free newsletter. And thank you all of our Friends who generously took time to send us their comments for the last issue. Amongst other things, it added to the number of children we could share meals with this month! Small actions create more smiles today.

So, this time, what stories can we look into?

The story is, as always, yours.

Masami Sato. Founder, Buy1GIVE1Free

The world of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is becoming huge. CSR seminars are happening everywhere and articles around CSR appear every day in many publications.

But as long as we perceive that it is about corporate engagement, we may never feel relevant to be part of it (even the employees of those companies). At Buy1GIVE1Free we strongly believe that SMEs (Small to Medium size Enterprises) can also make a difference. And, of course, we know that individuals working together can do that too and make a massive a difference.

Actually, SMEs can also ignite a spark of a new giving concept to spread it massively around the world at least (if not more) than the corporate world can.

We have done some corporate speaking and introduced the ‘B1G1 CSR’ to some large companies. Having many large companies doing B1G1 will start to change the way we give, dramatically. So special thanks to the people who have helped create these opportunities by connecting us to the people in corporate world.

While we continue to work on creating relationships with those great leaders in different industries, we also see the fact that smaller companies make decisions much quicker. Many of the B1G1 business partners around the world are already making a difference in harmonious and perfect ways so that their own stories inspire others every day.
Each one of us – either as an employee, business, company executive, teacher, mother, a child—each one of us can participate in Buy1GIVE1Free giving.

We recently spoke with one of the B1G1 Business partners; Ken Hawkins and he excitedly mentioned that his son wanted to help B1G1 giving spread in their community by telling his teachers and many other people. WOW! So we discussed the idea about creating the kids ambassador pack. Now CSR is becoming really fun and exciting. Do let us know if you’d like to know more for your kids too. The world is really becoming ONE through a simple CSR program!

We often use the word ‘IMAGINE” when we want to start thinking outside the square. So let’s imagine this: a card (like a Credit Card) that EVERY TIME you use it to buy something, automatically ‘flips’ a small piece of the transaction into a charitable cause.

No, not points on an airline. But money actually flowing directly to a Worthy Cause to make a difference. Would that be cool? Or would that be cool?

The B1G1 ‘Contribution Card’ (we call it the JOY Card) is now almost up and running. It’s scheduled for release on 5th April.

But you can get up-to-speed on it quickly. Just jump online at www.b1g1.com and go to the B1G1 Card tab. Depending on where we’re at with the launch, you may even be able to get your B1G1 JOY CARD on line. You’ll certainly be able to register your interest! So go to it and do that now.

And then, every time you buy something with your card (a flight, a taxi ride, a meal or whatever it is), a Worthy Cause benefits. We think it adds another important element to Buy1GIVE1Free. All it takes is you.

• Bureau for Reconstruction and Development – Afghanistan
  
  • BRD implements and coordinates development projects in Afghanistan through four key programs: capacity building of government, human rights education and advocacy, capacity building for income generation and the development of a viable civil society.
• Dreamzhome – India
  • The “DREAMZ” Home provides temporary accommodation to children who have been exploited, destitute children & run-away children who land up in Mumbai in search of their daily bread.
• Friends of National Parks Foundation – Indonesia
  • FNPF is a grass root organization that works on habitat restoration, community development, conservation education and other wildlife conservation work in Bali.
• Gram Vikas – India
  • In the state of Orissa, Gram Vikas engages in projects that build toilets, shower rooms and a piped water supply into each and every household in a community.
• Indian Council of Mental Health - India
  • ICMH provides services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, sensory integration, animal-assisted therapy (first of its kind in Navi, Mumbai), arts based therapy, and neuro-developmental therapy for children with developmental disabilities.
• Kids on Bikes – New Zealand
  • Kids on Bikes helps overweight and low confidence children to exercise regularly with the provision of bicycles, helmets and safety equipment.
• SoulTalk – Hong Kong
  • SoulTalk is a registered professional and personal charity in Hong Kong working with women in emotional and relationship crisis through counselling and educational programs.
• Vana Trust – Africa
  • Vana Trust's vision is for the relief of poverty, sickness and distress, the advancement of education and the preservation and protection of good health of children and young people in Southern Africa.

Earlier on in your newsletter, you read about the story of Anand Bhatia and the lighting of the schools in India. But it’s only part of the story.

Anand is like many entrepreneurs who are part of B1G1 who really ‘get’ giving. It’s part of his very being.

And you know how it is when you get a new car, you really notice others now driving the same model? Well, the people that study that phenomenon say it’s all part of your RAS—your Reticular Articulation System. Put simply, it means that when something gets into your RAS, you look at the world through a new set of eyes.

Anand’s RAS (and hence what he sees) work overtime when it comes to seeing challenges that can be solved in unique ways. Here’s just one example:

On a visit with Anand to one of the schools now powered by his lighting, I noticed how gracious the children are. As you come within a few metres of their classroom they stand up as one and give you that lovely ‘hands together in prayer’ greeting. And then, they surround you wanting
to shake hands with you and ask you questions.

In the midst of this, Anand turned to me and said, “Did you notice anything about their hands.”Well my RAS wasn’t quite as tuned in as his. “Their hands?” I asked. “Well more specifically their finger nails,” he said.

“Yes, they’re quite long.”

“Precisely,” said Anand, “and therein lies a source of about 30 percent of the disease-related challenges.”

Seeing my still-baffled look, Anand explained. “Well here in the school, you’ll notice that they get the Midday Meals delivered.” (Midday Meals is B1G1 Worthy Cause that feeds upwards of 125,000 poor children a day by delivering the meals to the schools so that the only way they get properly fed is when they also get an education.)

“And the children, like most Indians, eat the meal with their fingers. But since there’s not a great supply of water here, a lot of germs can rest under those long nails. And so gastro problems develop and so on.”

So now, for just $1, Anand’s providing nail clippers to the school to make those nails shorter and the kids healthier. All thanks to a RAS that looks for the smallest things to fix.

It’s like a lot of things really; it’s most often the little things that produce the profound results. And here at Buy1GIVE1Free each day we’re seeing little things that few people notice—and together producing profound impacts.

In Japan there is this old saying, “kindness is not the act for others”. I used to think it meant “Good things we do always come back to us”. The now oft-quoted ‘Law of Attraction’ is all about feeling good. Doing ‘good’ creates good feelings and good feelings create success and abundance.

And then one day, I thought, “Actually, it could mean it is not really good to be kind to others…? Because if we just did something for others without knowing the implication and the long-term results, people could become dependent on being given and it does not empower them.”

Well, I still do not know the answer to this. It could mean either way… But the only thing I know is that when we see the smiles of others, we feel good. When we do or say something against others and create conflict, it feels unpleasant. So, isn’t it good enough reason to still be kind and giving to others? Because we all really do want to feel good right now.

CSR is a complex subject creating lots of different perspectives. But maybe we can make it simpler and easier by just doing what we can do and what we love to do right now today, following our heart – every second, every day and in every way.


Welcome to the world of Buy1GIVE1Free!

MASAMI SATO, Founder Buy1GIVE1Free,
speeks to ChannelNewsAsia - Click on the image to watch the Video