to a child around the world. Please read on for the full story.
One of the most wonderful things about social media is that it gives every single one of us a voice. One of the challenges however, is that sometimes it’s easy to stop at so-called awareness; we may discuss topics and causes we’re passionate about but that doesn’t always translate into tangible action.
I get it. We’re all busy, and we’re all guilty of this from time to time.
That’s why I’ve been so thrilled to be a part of the Shot@Life annual Blogust blog relay every year since its inception. It’s a brilliant campaign that turns the passion s many of us feel for saving children’s lives and eradicating preventable disease into action that matters.
This is a really personal issue for me. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Ethiopia with ONE.org and a truly remarkable group of women. We toured health clinics, visited schools, spoke with aid workers and farmers, spoke to parents, let children commandeer our iPhones and take pictures of themselves, danced with kids in the street to Justin Bieber.
After a life-changing week, one of the most profound takeaways that has stayed with me is how much we take for granted here — but not in the way you might expect.
I had always bought into the idea that all mothers want the same things for our children, all around the world. I was proven way, way wrong.
Ethiopian mothers waiting with their babies for vaccinations and health care at a local clinic
Ask an American mom what she wants for her kids sometime. You’ll probably get some version of I want them to be happy. Ask an Ethiopian mom what she wants for her kids, and you’re more likely to hear things like food or an education. Or most difficult: I want her to live to be five.
It’s heartwrenching.
To think we can’t hope for happiness in our children — let alone success, finding true love, going to a great college, working in a fulfilling career, having children of their own, and all the other things we we want for them — without them first surviving to adulthood.
The great thing about Blogust is, you can actually make that happen. Yes, you.
If you comment on this post, share this post, like this post, repost this quote to any of your social media channels with the hashtag #blogust, then every single one of those actions translates to one vaccine donated to a child around the world by Shot@Life and The UN Foundation.
That’s up to 50,000 children you will be helping by doing something that takes you literally a second or two. 50,000 mothers’ daughters and sons. 50,000 humans with the potential to grow up and do amazing things.
Live in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you, no one would believe it
One share = one vaccine
This has always been one of my favorite quotes. I can think of so many women who this brings to mind, many of them participating in Blogust too, like Asha Dornfest, Jyl Patee, Tracey Clark. We are all imperfect of course, but when I have this thought in my head, it always gives me something better to strive for.
One of the other quotes I’ve also always loved is, maybe you can’t change the world, but you can help one person and that changes their world.
That’s just what the Blogust campaign gives us each a chance to do.
So please, leave a comment here, share this post, like it, pin it, gram it, Tweet it, and whatever other 21st century social media verb you can think of. Then visit the other Shot@Liife Blogust blogs and social media accounts — there’s a new quote posted by a new writer each day, all month long — and do the same.
I know you’re busy. But if you’ve gotten this far in this post (and thank you!), then another five seconds to click a button is a drop in the bucket.
It’s so worth it.
Gabby Blair of Design Mom visiting Ethiopia with the ONE moms
all photos © Liz Gumbinner
Gorgeous post. Love both of those quotes, Liz, and I hadn’t run across either of them before. Thanks for the inspiration and for your support of Blogust!
Great quote, great month. I always look forward this month and shot@life. Keep doing great things each day.
Yes, it’s so worth it! Love your quote! Glad to be doing this together again! 🙂 Gina
Liz, I love your quote, your post and that you’ve been a part of Blogust since Day One (literally since your remarks at Mom2 five years ago inspired Blogust!).
Thank you Emily! And count yourself among the many people that come to mind when I think of this quote. Can’t wait to see your own post.
(And has it been 5 years? WHOA.)
This is such an awesome quote! You girls are the bee’s knees.
Words to live by.
I totally resonate with this, Liz. I remember, on my visit to Kenya, how the moms would introduce themselves. They would share their name and then tell us how many children they had and how many of those children were living and how many had passed on. After the first several introduced themselves in this way, I became keenly aware of the vast differences between those in developing nations without access to medical care and those who live where such things are readily available… things we often take for granted. It was sobering.
So grateful for programs like Blogust that make it easy for everyone to help children in need.
What an amazing opportunity to help kids. Will be sharing for sure! #blogust
Beautiful post and thank you for sharing your experiences. I know firsthand that others countries lack the more basic care for children and every 20 seconds a child dies from a easy preventable disease the can be prevented with a vaccine.
We are so lucky to take health for granted Felisa; it feels like an obligation to give it back to others. Thank you for commenting.
Great quote and cause.
Beautiful quote! Thanks for posting!
Save a life!!! Love your heart Liz…
Thank you so much Jill..and everyone. The comments here, the Twitter shares, the IG likes are all changing someone’s world.
Commenting to save lives! Thanks so much ladies for being part of #blogust!!!
Love this. What a great way to help!
Love your post. I always look forward to blogust. Thanks for taking a stand.
beautiful mission ?
Commenting for a shot! Thanks for the opportunity to do so.
Thank you! I love that quote too! ♥
Love the quote and love the story. How sad that some mothers just want their children to have a chance to live. Giving hope is what this is all about!
Great quotes!
The 1st year I participated in Blogust my son was 4 and a 1/2 and it hit me so hard to think of the families around the world who would count that age as a miracle milestone. Vaccines save lives – so happy we can collectively help other families.
Thank you so much Dresden, for being part of this all these years. It makes me happy too.
Thanks for contribution in #Blogust to ensure improving the health of mothers and children.
People often don’t comment because they don’t know what to say. So great that in this case commenting is also a doing. Thank you.
Great quote, can’t wait to share it with my kids. Thanks!
Great quote!
Love this!!
I also spent a week in La Roma that changed my life.
Thanks for continuing to make a difference through Shot@Life’s Blogust!
Great cause, thanks for sharing!
Love this. So glad to be part of this effort with you.
Thank you for moving such an amazing cause forward!
How wonderful! Happy to read this 🙂
I love this quote. Thank you for sharing!!!!
Amazing!
Awesome idea!
Wonderful quote. Happy #Blogust!
This is so true! Plus, it has helped me out at work a few times when I was accused of something I didn’t do because my supervisor didn’t believe my accuser! What a great bonus!
What a great cause!
Love that quote! Great campaign!
This is so awesome!!! YAY for vaccines!