As we come to the end of 2016, it would be important to reflect on the little good deeds we have done for others, little acts of kindness and mercy in a spirit of selflessness and sincerity without expecting something in return. Millions of such little acts of kindness and mercy will make a mighty ocean of such virtues at a time when a vice-ridden world is seeing so much of wicked brutality. Filling our days with acts of kindness and selfless service for the common good of all, especially the impoverished people, will give us the power and the vision to do extraordinary good deeds for others.
The Cable News Network (CNN) which claims to be the world’s most watched international TV channel, this week named its ten heroes of the year and their stories would not only be inspiring but also encourage us to produce more such heroes or heroines who honestly work for the benefit of all instead of mere politicians who are generally self-centred or self-serving if not worse.
Here are the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2016:
Jeison Aristizabal: Growing up with cerebral palsy in Colombia, a doctor once told Jeison Aristizabal’s mother that he would “amount to nothing”. Aristizabal has since started law school and dedicated his life to helping others reach their full potential. His nonprofit, ASODISVALLE, offers young people with disabilities a range of free services, including medical care, physical therapy and healthy meals. Craig Dodson: He was a semi-professional cyclist in 2005 when he was asked to speak to a group of students in Richmond, Virginia. He later learned that many in the crowd lived in one of the city’s roughest housing projects. Inspired to help, Mr. Dodson founded the Richmond Cycling Corps in 2010, a nonprofit organisation that coaches cycling teams for at-risk children. For Mr. Dodson, Cycling is a way into their lives and a path out of the projects.
Sherri Franklin: She poured her lifelong passion for animals into volunteer work at the San Francisco humane society. Sadly, she noticed older dogs were being passed over in favour of the shelter’s puppies. To save them, Ms. Franklin started Muttville out of her home, a nonprofit organisation that rescues and finds homes for senior dogs-more than 4,000 so far,
Brad Ludden: At 18, he had already completed nearly 100 “first descents” – kayak trips down a section of the river no one has paddled before. After watching his aunt battle cancer when she was 38, Mr. Ludden started First Descents, a nonprofit organisation that brings these once-in-a-lifetime experiences to young adults battling the disease-with more than 3,000 participants to date. “It’s that important reminder that this life, it’s really fleeting, Mr. Ludden said. Luma Mufleh: She founded a soccer programme and school through her organization, the Fugees Family, to address the unique needs of the refugee community in Clarkston, Georgia. Last spring, the Fugees Academy graduated its first class and Ms. Mufleh’s group has helped more than 800 refugee children.
Umra Omar: She left a career in the United States to help people without any access to health care in her homeland of Kenya. Ms. Omar founded Safari Doctors, a group that travels by boat, road and air to bring free medical services to more than 1,000 people a year in remote and insecure areas near the Somalian border. Georgie Smith: Los Angeles County has the country’s largest foster youth population, and when they age out of the system, they’re often left on their own. After seeing this first-hand, designer and chef Georgie Smith founded the nonprofit organisation, A Sense of Home, which provides comfortable living spaces for former foster youth.
Sheldon Smith: Like nearly half of all African-American children in the U.S., Sheldon Smith grew up with an absentee father. Serving prison time for robbery scared Mr. Smith and inspired him to stay in his child’s life and encourage others to do the same. Mr. Smith started the Dovetail Project, which teaches young fathers the life skills necessary to become responsible parents and positive role models. Becca Stevens: Nearly twenty years ago, Becca Stevens, an episcopal priest, set out to help the Nashville women who have been scarred by prostitution, addiction and trafficking. Today, her nonprofit, Thistle Farms, runs five residential communities in Nashville, providing women a place to stay for two years, medical care, counselling and other services - all for free
Harry Swimmer: An encounter with a girl named Stacy changed his life. Stacy has cerebral palsy, and meeting her gave Swimmer an idea: What would happen if he put Stacy on a horse? “She just lit up like a candle.” Soon after, Mr. Swimmer retired and transformed his horse farm into a sanctuary for children with disabilities. Since 1988, his organization, Mitey Riders, has provided more than 800 children free equine-assisted therapy.
In Sri Lanka also we need to encourage such selfless and sacrificial service to those who are rejected, marginalized or humiliated.
