Small Acts, Big Change: 10 Ways to Make the World Better This Week
In short
Changing the world starts small. Ten simple acts, from reading to a child to donating a desk, can make your community better this week.
People often tell me they would love to make a difference but do not know where to start. My answer is always the same: start small, start close and start now. Big change is just small acts added together.
Here are ten ideas you can try this week.
1. Read to a child
Fifteen minutes with a picture book builds vocabulary, confidence and a lifelong love of learning. Offer to read at a library, school or church, or with a neighbour's child.
2. Donate school supplies
Exercise books, pencils and backpacks keep children in class. Through the Anslem Esi Foundation, I have seen how much a simple desk or a pack of books means to a pupil.
3. Say thank you to a teacher
Write a short note to a teacher who made a difference to you or your children. It costs nothing and may be the encouragement they needed.
4. Share a meal
Cook a little extra and share it with an elderly neighbour, a new parent or someone going through a hard time.
5. Give one hour to a local charity
Food banks, shelters and youth clubs always need an extra pair of hands. One hour is enough to start.
6. Mentor a young person
Share what you know about your profession with a student or new graduate. A single conversation can change someone's career path.
7. Clear out and give away
Clothes, shoes, toys and books you no longer use can bless another family. Drop them at a thrift store or community centre.
8. Support a local business
Buy your coffee, groceries or gifts from a small local shop this week. Money spent locally stays in the community.
9. Check on someone
A phone call to a friend who has gone quiet, or a visit to someone living alone, can lift a heavy day.
10. Give together
Invite friends, colleagues or your faith community to pool a small amount for one cause. Together, small gifts become something a whole village can feel.
Make it a habit
Pick one idea today and another next week. Before long, kindness becomes a habit, and habits change neighbourhoods. For more ways to get involved, see Easy Steps to Be Active in Your Community and our Get Involved page.
Key takeaways
- Small, consistent acts create big change over time.
- Children's education is one of the most powerful places to give.
- Giving together multiplies what each person can do alone.
Questions and answers
How can I make a difference with little money?
Give time and attention: read to a child, mentor a young person, volunteer for an hour or check on a lonely neighbour. These acts cost nothing and matter enormously.
Anslem Oshionebo is a Dallas-based philanthropist, engineer and chartered accountant. He supports children's education and community health in Nigeria through the Anslem Esi Foundation, teaches preschoolers at his church and coaches youth soccer. More about Anslem.