MY ONE CENT: BRIDGET KELLY
"Every day I stay focused on what I can do as one human being to make that change. There’s a lot of power in one person and a lot of things individual citizens can do to help with that cause."
April 18, 2018
Bridget Kelly lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania. When she retired from teaching, she missed having “important work” so she began advocating for CARE. This is Bridget’s My One Cent story:
Who are you and how did you get involved with CARE?
Since my retirement, I’ve been working with organizations to empower women and children as a means to eradicate poverty. I came to CARE through a friend who runs a volunteer program in Haiti and when she was asked to advocate for CARE, she asked me to join her. We went to the CARE National Conference three years ago in Washington D.C. and I fell in love with CARE’s mission.
I’m a world traveler and I’ve seen so many things in this world that are wonderful even in the midst of poverty. I've been to all seven continents and almost 75 countries. I’ve seen glaring differences between the life I’ve had and one that somebody else has had simply because I was lucky enough to be born into a family on the east coast of the United States.
Why is securing foreign assistance so important to you?
As I travel, I realize that if I can't “step it up” and do something with all of this privilege, then nobody can. I have the time and the energy. I won't say I have the expertise, but I certainly have the passion. That’s why my personal mission every day is to work to eradicate poverty by empowering women and children. Every day I stay focused on what I can do as one human being to make that change. There’s a lot of power in one person and a lot of things individual citizens can do to help with that cause.
Why must women and girls remain at the focus of our advocacy efforts?
Because research clearly shows that when you invest in women, you invest in the village. When you invest in young girls being educated, the poverty rate decreases dramatically. It makes me very optimistic. I'm filled with hope actually.
Given today's challenges both abroad and in Washington, D.C., are you optimistic about the future?
Yes I am, and I'm optimistic because of our youth. It's not our government that I'm going to count on to make these changes. I do think our government needs to continue to protect foreign aid, but I think the youth of today are really stepping up and saying, this has to be a better place for everyone.
What should other people know about advocates like you?
People often say that I do great things and I say that I have great opportunities. I feel lucky to have the time and wherewithal to be in the center of opportunities that enrich others’ lives. These opportunities show me what humanity is all about. I guess what motivates me to advocate for CARE is that I know what a little bit can do to enrich the life of somebody who has so little.
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