Helping People: Simple Ways To Make A Difference

1. Smile at someone you don't know.

2. Give someone a hug (someone who looks like they really need one).

3. Be a non-judgemental shoulder for someone going through some relationship heartbreak.

4. Apologize to someone you've had an argument with, even if you were right.

5. Tell someone they mean a lot to you (genuinely) to let them know you appreciate them.

6. Take the time to write or email someone you have not kept in touch with recently.

7. Say "Thank You" to someone who does something for you regularly, especially if it may seem to them like it's sometimes a thankless job.

8. Give someone a genuine compliment, just because. You'll both feel good about it.

9. Volunteer your time to help out with charity work.

10. Spend quality time with your grandparents (or parents). Even an elderly stranger in a nursing home. They will appreciate it more than you will know.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring: all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

- Leo Buscaglia

If you work for a company or a large corporation, you may be able to make a bigger impact in a shorter period of time if you have some spare income at your disposal. In Australia, all donations over $2 are tax deductible. It becomes a win-win situation.

Here are some suggestions on how you can make a difference and help people.

• Your team can sponsor a child (this could even be funded by a number of employees together, that way each individual will not have a large outlay and you will be able to help the sponsored child)
• Your company can offer a scholarship to a student to help them complete their education, perhaps with the offer of employment at the end of their studies. Often these students are extremely grateful and in time will make loyal employees to your organization.
• Donate second hand company vehicles (which are often "written off" the books anyways) to families who are in desparate need of private transport.
• Donate money to charities or hold regular "food & blanket collections" at your office.
• Help fund an upgrade to the local school or medical facility in the city or country you are currently working in (especially when work is being undertaken overseas in a third world country. This would cost a fraction of the price and make a bigger impact.)
  

Our small project team decided to give up their Christmas party last year and donate the funds collected throughout the year from soft drink can sales to victims of the recent Victorian Bushfires who lost everything. I thought this was an awesome and heart warming gesture from a bunch of otherwise typically "rough" concrete workers on site! I was very proud of them that day.