I Can’t Not Do

Paul Shoemaker wrote a wonderful book, “Can’t not do,” the title of which perfectly capture why some give time and energy so completely to a cause.

An impactful donor, and by that I mean time, energy or money, does so because she/he has an internal drive demanding action. This donor has experienced a moment of internal realization that they have to act, they have to be the agent of change. Perhaps the realization was inspired by a story, a personal tragedy, an experience. Whatever it was the donor could no longer be idle.

For me, my realization was driven by a young girl named Oliva. She was an incredibly bright girl, who spoke three languages. She loved to cook and wanted to own a restaurant. But she was born with down syndrome in a developing country, Uganda, where her disability labelled her as a curse. I saw her potential and worked with her to bring it out, but she was trapped in a world of neglect and abuse.

It is because of Oliva I “can’t not do.” It was because of her I left a wonderful job and my home to found embraceKulture. I was too late to change the story for her, but I won’t be for millions of children like her.