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I opened my inbox this morning and saw an e-mail entitled “Donations for Myanmar Victims.” Blah blah cyclone this, death toll that. I didn’t want to hear about or read another e-mail from the many non-profit e-mail lists I’m subscribed to.

But looking closer I realized it’s not from an organization, but from my friend Dana from college. We were both RAs and we both love social dance. So I read the email below and was moved to donate the meager amount I can afford in my soon to be college-studentesque budget.

Often the damage can be overwhelming, as my rockstar friend George points out. But the little things matter to those who receive the help, and they matter to God.

Over the last year and a half, I have been working with a non-profit organization, IDE (International Development Enterprises - http://www.ideorg.org/ ) on developing a deep lift water pump for villages in the dry areas of Myanmar. I have traveled to their Myanmar office twice and have had a chance to work with these amazing people. They have an incredible team of people working on development for the rural poor.

However, with Cyclone Nargis, the lack of food and shelter, and difficulty in getting aid through the Myanmar military government, IDE Myanmar finds themselves in a unique position to leverage their resources to help. They have operations in almost all of the hard hit areas and they have government permission to work in these areas.

I recently received an email from Jim and Debbie Taylor, the directors of IDE Myanmar and two very close friends: “The current situation in Yangon is quite grim. We have no electricity, water, or phones… the fuel supplies are running short and food may become scarce soon. There are many people who are in desperate conditions.” However, they are doing what they can to help.

I am writing to ask for donations (of any amount) to help them in their efforts. Donations designated for “Myanmar” will go directly to IDE Myanmar, from which they will be able to offer aid to needy families.

https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=3264

I know it may not seem like as one person we can do much on our own, but if you feel moved by this story and the photo below, I would encourage you to follow the link above and donate what you can.

Note: If you donate, be sure to specify the “Other” option and make the donation “On behalf of: Myanmar Relief”.

I know I haven’t left Microsoft until the end of today, but it’s never to soon to make a difference. It’s too easy for me to grow apathetic to these things but slowly I’m learning to care about more than just myself.