How Africa changed my life
My story starts off in one of the poorest countries on Earth – Tanzania. I went to Tanzania, Africa with two purposes: 1) the mission trip with church; 2) search for my inner purpose. But before I go any further, let me Quentin Tarantino it and take you back the beginning.
I have always had an unexplainable connection with Africa. I wanted to make a difference, wanted to help those in need. Africa touched my soul, and my soul called to Africa. I had graduated from college and started a great job in West Palm Beach, Fl. From the outside, life was grand, however, I was not satisfied. I was a square peg person stuck in the round world I created for myself. Six years of financial service jobs, climbing the corporate ladder, doing the right thing, but something was lacking.
I took a month off from work, maxed out my credit cards, raised funds to pay for the rest and went to Africa. From the moment I stepped off the plane in Dar es Salaam, my soul was home. The feelings were indescribable.
The trip challenged my comfort zones and my dedication. I came back a changed man, and the new job and new life in West Palm Beach didn’t fit any more. Reality was a bitter pill of bills, and a job that I had thought would satisfy me but didn’t.
Fate intervened again. I was laid off from the great job and was forced to moved back in with my parents to survive. I had options. I could job surf and sit on the couch waiting for life to come to me or look at this as an opportunity.
I made my decision… Take this opportunity to fulfill my dream and make You Be The Charity (YBTC) a reality. I combined my love for artistic t-shirts with my love for Africa to form a non-profit organization focusing on African Orphans.
YBTC takes donated art supplies to rural and urban orphanages in the poorest counties of Africa. Through the imaginations of these children, our t-shirts are born from their vision and creativity. We are choosing eco-friendly t-shirts and selling the creative designs of these children through our website as limited edition t-shirts.
The money raised will be returned back to the orphan and the orphanage to be used for the completion of much needed projects such as clean water, healthy food, and educational supplies. This in turn gives these children the greatest gift of all… HOPE for a better life.
Africa changed my heart and my soul. Help me make a change for Africa.
If I could give any tip... that would be follow your heart, take that leap of faith and try. Do not let the rat race of life stop you from being self fulfilled. It took a total paradigm shift in my life for me to seize the opportunity to fulfill my dream. Surround yourself with those who support you but are also honest. I reach for the stars so I had to find people to bring me back to Earth. DO LOTS OF RESEARCH but don't reinvent the wheel. And finally stay true to you and who you are.
