This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
I remember when I was young hearing the phrase, ‘children should be seen and not heard’. We were also told we must listen to the wisdom of our elders and learn from them. However as we begin a new decade I hope that it will be the listening twenties when children should be seen and heard. Last century saw the roaring twenties, the decade between two world wars, but now our world is threatened in a different way.
Having spent Christmas with our family I find myself impressed by our children. They seem more engaged and wiser than I was at their age. They also seem more worried about the world and its future than we ever were. Maybe it is because they know so much more than we did, (thanks to Google) and are so much more worldly having travelled more than I ever had at their age.
Whatever the reason I now listen and learn from them. All of our children should be seen and heard. They have so much to offer. They are a force of power that cannot be locked away until they have matured enough that we believe we can learn from their wisdom. Greta Thunberg, 16 yrs old, and Rachel Beckwith (9 yrs), are two such young people who have acted on their own concerns.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager, has made such an impact on our world, she has been seen and heard. She would have liked a stronger reaction to her words however the world is still run by older people who take longer to accept and embrace change. She wants governments to listen and react….quickly. This is a huge ask.
However I was very moved to hear the story of a young girl in Seattle, Rachel Beckwith, who had a small idea which has expanded into a huge movement benefiting tens of thousands of less well-off people in the world.
Rachel’s Legacy
Five years ago, Rachel had a wish. Shortly before her ninth birthday, Rachel learned that kids on the other side of the planet were spending more time walking to find and collect dirty water than they were in school, and she decided to help.
Instead of birthday gifts that year, she asked her family and friends to donate $9 to her fundraising campaign. She wanted to raise $300 — enough to bring clean water to 10 kids in need. But she fell short of her goal, raising $220. Rachel’s mum assured her it was good enough, and that she could try again for her next birthday.
One month later, a tractor-trailer smashed into a car that she was riding in with her mother and younger sister. The accident took Rachel’s life.
News of her death shook the entire Seattle community. And then, Rachel’s story began to spread. With her death Rachel started to be seen and heard. A local news station mentioned Rachel’s wish to raise $300 and bring clean water to kids in need, and hundreds of strangers started to give $9 in her memory. Then it became thousands. Then tens of thousands.
Within weeks, the heart of this 9-year-old girl had inspired 31,997 donations to her fundraising campaign.
Rachel’s $220… grew into $1.2 million.
Enough to bring clean and safe drinking water to 37,770 people in Ethiopia.
One year later
On the anniversary of her death, Rachel’s mum and grandparents visited Tigray, Ethiopia to meet many of the families who received clean water.
Thousands came out to greet the family — singing and dancing in celebration of Rachel.
Over the next few years …
Rachel’s mum and little sister continued fundraising in her memory (in fact, they’re still going today). Together, they’ve raised another $157,995 for clean water — bringing the total to $1.4 million.
New remote sensors on those wells show us exactly what that impact looks like on a village level. For example, we know that 250 people in Beato Community collect an average of 1,484 litres every day — because of Rachel.
But the story didn’t even end there …
408 of the people who donated to Rachel’s fundraising campaign then went on to fundraise for clean water just like Rachel did. And one by one, they began changing and inspiring lives too.
That group has raised another $1.7 million for clean water.
Today
Rachel and the community she inspired have changed the lives of more than 100,000 people around the world.
100,000 people.
People who are now healthier and stronger because of Rachel.
Kids with more time for school because of Rachel.
Mums and Dads who can build better futures for generations to come because of Rachel.
Rachel proved just how much impact one life can have. Not only did her wish help change the lives of over 100,000 people who got clean water; it also changed the lives of 44,018 people who gave clean water. She’s inspired generosity, kindness and love all over the world.
Rachel reminded us that there’s good in all of us. That every single person on this planet has the opportunity to change lives, to build a legacy. That every child should be seen and heard.
But let’s not just leave it to our children – we can help too……
If you want to donate to Rachel’s Legacy click HERE.