{"id":7501,"date":"2024-05-13T16:18:34","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T20:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/from-minimalist-lifestyle-to-global-change-the-hope-effect-story\/"},"modified":"2024-05-13T16:18:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T20:18:34","slug":"from-minimalist-lifestyle-to-global-change-the-hope-effect-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/from-minimalist-lifestyle-to-global-change-the-hope-effect-story\/","title":{"rendered":"From Minimalist Lifestyle to Global Change: The Hope Effect Story"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n

In two weeks, I will celebrate 16 years of Becoming Minimalist (both the lifestyle and this blog). If you\u2019ve been following my writing for any length of time, you know that I LOVE listing out the positive benefits of owning less.<\/p>\n

In almost every post, in way or another, I point out the life-giving benefits of pursuing minimalism\u2014more freedom, less stress, greater productivity, just to name a few.<\/p>\n

If I had to list out my favorite benefits in order, I\u2019m not sure I could. But I do know that opening up my life to greater generosity would be one of the benefits near the top.<\/p>\n

When you own less, you keep more money. When you buy less, you save more. And when you need less, you open the door to giving more and fighting for causes you believe in.<\/p>\n

And one of the greatest joys in life is being able to do something that helps to solve problems you see in the world. <\/p>\n

In one of my recent YouTube videos<\/a> where I talked about the steps we can all take to be a little more generous, I mentioned the important step of supporting causes that resonate deeply with you. The idea is simple: Start by identifying a cause close to your heart, then connect with an organization that champions this cause and contribute joyfully to their efforts.<\/p>\n

One such need in the world that has always resonated with my wife Kim and I are helping orphaned children around the world\u2014children who have lost the love and support of their parents (for whatever reason). No doubt our love for vulnerable children is largely inspired by Kim\u2019s own experience of being abandoned at the hospital as a baby\u2014but wanting to help children overcome tragedy doesn\u2019t require such a backstory. Sometimes people are simply motivated out of love or a desire for justice in the world.<\/p>\n

For us, this passion to help children led us to create a nonprofit organization, back in 2015, to revolutionize orphan care around the world.<\/p>\n

The Hope Effect<\/h3>\n

With INCREDIBLE support from this Becoming Minimalist community, Kim and I launched The Hope Effect<\/a>. Our mission was to change the way the world cares for orphans.<\/p>\n

And we\u2019re doing it!<\/p>\n

Around the world, millions of children are growing up without the love of a family. In many developing countries, these children are raised in institutions\u2014commonly referred to as orphanages.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, decades-old research<\/a> has shown that institutional care actually has devastating long-term effects on children. Children raised in orphanages don\u2019t receive the love, support and individual attention found within a family environment. This leads to significant developmental delays, and eventually children age out of orphanages only to face a future of crime, prostitution, or trafficking.<\/p>\n

Orphanages are better than children living on the streets, but there is a better way! <\/p>\n

Every child deserves a family.<\/em><\/p>\n

And that is the work we are doing around the world. The Hope Effect is working to get children out<\/em> of orphanages and into<\/em> loving families. <\/p>\n

In less than ten years, we have stretched around globe\u2014pioneering and expanding family care in places like Mexico, Honduras, Thailand, and Cambodia.<\/p>\n

Through the love of a family, children like Alberto* have hope for a brighter future.<\/p>\n

Alberto\u2019s Story<\/h3>\n

Alberto, a young boy from Sonora, Mexico, spent the first five months of his life in an orphanage due to his mother\u2019s struggles with addiction.<\/p>\n

Sadly, he suffered from developmental delays and serious health concerns. Alberto had a severe skin condition that limited his hair growth and left him with sores all over his body. While the staff at the orphanage tried their best, Alberto needed the individual attention and care that is found within a family.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, because of The Hope Effect, Alberto was welcomed into the arms of a foster family, and he began to thrive under their love and affection.<\/p>\n

I want you to get a picture of the lives being changed because of this Becoming Minimalist Community. If you have five minutes, watch this short video to see how Alberto\u2019s life has been changed forever because of family:<\/p>\n