Changing the World

I, like a lot of young adults my age, have a passion and desire to change the world for the better. I mean, in a way I think we all do because of the interactions we have with one another, and the love we pour out on one another connects us all in some way.

BUT, I find myself thinking about how I can use the opportunities and gifts/talents I have been given to make a big impact. I have been inspired by small ideas that have become revolutionary. I think it's so important to support one another, especially when our brothers and sisters take on big responsibility.

I have decided to share some of my favorites with you. I know there are millions (which is really amazing) of big and small companies and organizations creating awareness and change. I think God really blesses us when we strive to serve Him in unique ways. Each of these stories involve seeing the need, and responding to it. Not necessarily in ways that cost thousands of dollars, but in innovate avenues that awaken our consumer-driven culture into awareness.

Check out some of these creative projects by some awesome young adults:

* TOMS Shoes- I have been a TOMS supporter since 2005 when I first heard about them at a Hanson concert. Basically, this guy named Blake saw the need of kids all over the world who have no shoes. So, he creates a shoe pattern based on an Argentinian shoe and starts a buisness. Every time someone buys a pair of shoes from them, they also buy one pair for a child who needs one. One for one.


*The Uniform Project: I just recently found this one in the past month!This girl has taken her amazing fashion sense and used it to raise money to buy uniforms and put more kids in schools who live in slums in India. Her friend designed one dress (but don't worry she has 7 of the same dress) that she has pledged to wear for one year. Each day she takes a photo, and each day looks totally different because she uses fun, cheap accessories...all of which she got on ebay and consignment shops. The pledges she recieves goes to the Akanksha Foundation, which creates education opportunities in India. Plus she's super fancy!



*JESUS Branded: One of my favorites! I've always loved the amazing designs of their shirts over there, but recently they just changed their whole approach to their t shirt shop. They realized they became too focused on their store instead of spreading the gospel through shirts (incredibly cool, non-cheesy ones by the way). So, now they create two shirts per week (tuesday and thursday) and give vistors 48 hours to buy that particuar shirt, then its gone forever. They blog about what God is doing in their life, and how the truths they are learning translate into incredibly cool shirts. The shirts then have created TONS of online and real life dialogue that get people asking questions, pursuing God and sharing life with one another. Unbelievably cool.