The Urban Monk wrote a wonderful series on compassion and happiness. In his latest post, one sentence really stuck by me:

What about those who point towards friends and family as a cause of happiness? What about those who find their meaning in charity work? Ix92m not saying they are wrong, or should be avoided. But they are the conditions supporting the development of happiness, not the cause of happiness themselves!

Being a charity worker myself, I can only adhere to this. The charity work itself won’t make me happy, I will have to find that happiness and peacefulness within myself. However, dedicating my working hours, which still account for a big majority of my time, to a worthier cause has definitely contributed to my well-being. To having a feeling of making a difference on a day to day basis.

After leaving the profit sector two years ago, I have worked as a fundraiser for the Dutch UAF, a foundation raising funds to help higher educated fugitives in the Netherlands follow any additional education needed, and finding a job that fits their capabilities and talents. An admirable cause, where I have learned so much, first and foremost from the fugitives themselves. Incredibly strong men and women, who have gone through great ordeal to be able to provide security and hope for a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Stories that made my own sorrows and problems become incredibly trivial..
But, in the back of my mind, there always was my ambition to work on a children’s cause within a period of appr. two years. And, I’m so happy to say, that wish has come true! In January, I will start working for the Dutch Heart Foundation, being responsible for fundraising for the Children’s Heart Foundation. This Foundation has recently been renamed, into.. JUMP!

JUMP’s main focus: the health (and healthy lifestyle) of children from 0 to 18 years. JUMP supports children with congenital heart problems, e.g. by funding research and organising special holiday camps. Furthermore, JUMP”s goal is to educate all children on a healthy lifestyle, e.g. on the importance of exercise and healthy food.

In a society where obesitas (and with that heart problems) amongst youth is becoming a major issue, I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to be a part of the team that strives to counter this!

To celebrate my new job (and give you a song that probably will stick for a while ), a song from way, way back….: JUMP!!