COMMENTARY: How do you give back?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Heather Baldwin
  • 100th Operations Support Squadron commander
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  My husband, I, and four of our friends visited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania recently. We trekked 19,340 feet through sunshine, rain, sleet, snow and lightning over the course of one week. We met travelers who had tackled the mountain six times. It was exhilarating, exhausting and a once-in-a-lifetime feat, which we all agreed was worth the adventure but not to pursue again.

While the challenge of the climb and laughs are memorable, it's the people we met along the way and their stories of selflessness and courage that made this an extraordinary vacation.

We needed three guides, one cook and 14 porters to carry our extra clothing, camping gear and food for the entire party. The porters sailed past us up and down the mountain always with a warm greeting and the equipment strapped to their backs or balanced on their heads to setup camp before we arrived. This was their source of income, their life, and they were happy to offer the service.

While we were dressed in the latest mountain wear, some of the porters faced sub-zero weather in tennis shoes, tattered coats and sweatpants. We were informed a porter died of hypothermia about 18 months ago.

I realize they have to take more of a risk than a person living in the U.S.; their economy leaves them no choice. They work to feed their families and raise money to send their children to school since they have no free public education.

We met a twenty-something Australian couple living in Ghana for a year. They worked with mentally challenged children who had been outcast from their families and society, many of whom had been tied to poles in someone's backyard or locked in a room to prevent spreading their "disease." The couple saw it as their mission to educate the local populace and care for the neglected in a developing country, while their peers establish themselves in the working class and build future nest eggs. They're unconventional and courageous when economic instability is becoming more prevalent across the globe.

Also, there was Susan from Chicago, a self-described professional volunteer. In 2005, she and her husband retired and visited Tanzania. After witnessing the poverty and hopelessness, they felt compelled to do something. They partnered with friends in Chicago to found a nonprofit organization to educate Tanzanian underprivileged children.

The organization raised funds to build a primary school in Moshi, Tanzania, eight years ago. In addition, they built a hotel next to the school to generate funds. One hundred percent of the hotel's profits go toward the school. Members of the organization visit throughout the year to provide oversight to the hotel and school, but Susan and her husband plan to turn both operations over to the local community in due time.

All of these individuals demonstrate selflessness and courage.

How often have I wished I could do more to help someone in need and done nothing? These people did not do a simple act, they made it their mission to sustain a cause and embrace it as part of their life.

When I reflect back on our trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro, I remember the laughs I shared with my husband and friends, the breathtaking views and moments of sheer concentration to simply keep moving. All this made the trip a wonderful adventure, but what made it exceptionally memorable was meeting remarkable people making extraordinary sacrifices to improve their own lives and the lives of theirs.

I'm left wondering what can I do to make this world a better place? I can start by sharing this story and offering one thought. Twice a year, the Air Force provides an opportunity for us to give to those less fortunate. Consider those in need and take the step to make a difference with a glad heart; ultimately we are the ones who truly benefit from generosity.

The Air Force Assistance Fund campaign will run through April 11, 2014. If you are interested in donating, contact your squadron or unit's AFAF representative.