Thoughts

[Tal Flanchraych]

So at this point WSWC has had a few weeks to settle, gain some members, and accept user contributions. I've done my best to reach out to people through Facebook and whatnot but I feel like a large number of people who know me personally and joined appreciate the cause but don't really relate quite yet or see any tangible way they can help (However, I've been lucky enough to also somehow reach people who have been seriously involved in African causes for years).

Basically, it's all come down to this point: How do we bring out empathy in people? How do we get people to make the transition from considering something a problem to actually caring about it? And relating to that, how can we convince people that they can actually make change as an individual?

The last question is something that I've had a hard time coming to terms with myself. As an only child, I've been extremely self-involved for most of my life and even though I've always been a compassionate person, I was only able to start feeling real empathy for people I didn't personally in my first or second year of college. This being said, I still didn't think I could make any sort of difference by myself; my plan was always "first get rich and powerful, then use that to do good." And essentially, that is my plan. But I've realized that for my own self-fulfillment (and to appease my own anger at various problems in the world) I should really try to do something at this point. In the Information Age, the people who control the info control the world -- I want to be one of those people. I work in internet and I plan on rising within the industry, so why not try to harness it for a good cause while I'm in college?

But this still doesn't resolve the question of how to get OTHER people, like my members (you guys), to connect with a cause and feel like they can make a tangible change. One way to answer the question is to really dig deep into the psychology of empathy as neurobiological process: what triggers it, does it respond better to visual or aural cues, etc. etc. Another way, an easier and more feasible way, has been recently brought to my attention by one of my African members that I don't know personally. Dipesh, who is deeply involved with education in Africa, suggested that I focus the site in on one certain location and a certain cause within the large realm of education. He also suggested that we focus on the Congo, an area that needs help more than most others (and that he is already involved with). I think this is a great idea, especially because I am now linked to Dipesh and a few other people who are from Africa and have hands-on experience with the continent and its people, education, causes, and culture.

Perhaps through the focusing of this site towards a particular goal (for example, environmental and/or athletic education in the Congo), I can get stories, pictures, videos, and testimonials of the specific people we are trying to help and therefore draw out more empathy from Americans who just won't respond emotionally to Facebook groups or plain text in blogs such as these.

I'll keep everyone updated about the changes we are currently discussing. Thank you all for your support, and if you get the chance, see if you can get a friend or two to sign up.