Joining Giving What We Can: A Journey Towards Making a Positive Impact

Introduction

TL;DR: I have pledged to donate at least 10% of my income to effective charities.

Want to donate and sign the pledge? Join the Giving What We Can community!

Today on 1st January 2023, I decided to make a change in my life that will have a small impact on me but a large impact on some people I have never met. I am really excited about this opportunity and want to share it with you.

I just joined the Giving What We Can (GWWC) community as a new pledge member. I am here to provide you with an honest account of my experience and the reasons behind my decision to contribute towards creating a better world.

Commitment to Making a Difference

“It makes no moral difference whether the person I can help is a neighbor’s child ten yards away from me or a Bengali whose name I shall never know, ten thousand miles away … The moral point of view requires us to look beyond the interests of our own society.” —Peter Singer ¹

The ongoing struggle of the poorest people in the world rarely gets a mention on the news or in national political decisions, even though it outweighs the suffering in many of the more publicised stories. Yet there is no moral difference between the value of a child in South Sudan or in another high-poverty country and a stranger you meet in Canada.

Living in the Western world means that people in developed countries are part of the global Top 10% income earners. I strongly believe that it is not only a privilege but also a responsibility to contribute towards addressing the world’s most pressing issues. We live in the most important century ever and I certainly don’t have time to do nothing! So, let’s start to make some profound impact.

By joining Giving What We Can, I have taken a step towards fulfilling this responsibility and making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Educating Myself

To better understand the most effective ways to help others, I have immersed myself in literature that explores the concepts of effective altruism and ethical giving. Books such as Doing Good Better, Famine, Affluence, and Morality, and What We Owe the Future have provided me with valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the challenges we face and the potential solutions available.

Learning from the EA Community

Maximize your charitable impact with Giving What We Can

Being part of the global EA community has been an enriching experience. It has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference. In Spring 2023, I had the opportunity to attend the EAGxNordics conference in Stockholm (Sweden), where I learned from incredible people who shared their knowledge and expertise on how to be more effective in creating a positive impact.

Conclusion

Joining Giving What We Can has been an exciting and fulfilling journey for me. It has provided me with the tools, knowledge, and community support necessary to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those less fortunate. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute towards building a better world and encourage others to explore the concept of effective altruism and consider joining this incredible movement.

Remember, together we can make a difference!

Liked this announcement? Feel free to donate or provide your feedback via email.

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My Track Record

Some privacy concerns: In this section I will publish my progress updates to the public. The amounts of donated capital are eradicated, otherwise you might calculate my actual income!

My GWWC pledge contributions so far:

2023

My donation progress in year 2023

2024

Coming soon…

References

1. Singer, Peter (Spring 1972). “Famine, Affluence, and Morality”. Philosophy and Public Affairs. 1 (3): 229–243. JSTOR 2265052. The essay was republished in book form in 2016 with a new preface and two extra essays by Singer: Singer, Peter (2016). Famine, Affluence, and Morality. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190219208. OCLC 907446001. ↩