My Nonprofit Reviews

Our world is full of suffering and injustice. As someone trying to do their part to make the world a more just, sustainable place I'm often riddled with doubts: Does anything we do actually make a difference? Aren't nonprofits on some level just perpetuating the status quo? What do I really have to offer to people in the Global South?

In light of this, working for IDEX has been equal parts enlightening, empowering, and inspiring.

Enlightening because IDEX made me realize that it's okay to not have all the answers, that no one does.
That we need to humbly listen.
And therein's lies the rub: IDEX listens - to its partners, to its volunteers, to the people on the ground most in need. And so it learns and grows the best practices for alleviating poverty. Because all change-work is exchange work, because we can't teach without learning, because we're all in this strange phenomenon called life on earth together and so we have to figure out together how to preserve it and how to make life worth living for all of us.

Empowering because IDEX is in the business of empowerment: Empowering women and local communities to help themselves, to not just give self-aggrandizing gestures of charity. And IDEX extends that same philosophy to its volunteers: I learned skills that will be useful wherever my path may take me.

In my personal life, my work at IDEX has inspired me to live a life where my passions, skills and desire to be a good person meet.
I don't have to choose between helping others and helping myself. Because how do I expect to help others if it's at the expense of my own well-being? Conversely, how do I expect to accomplish something greater than myself if all my actions are self-serving?

If you want to be a part of something honest and effective, something that actually affects people's lives in positive ways then get involved with IDEX. Do it right now.

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