How can we start to end some of these social injustices going on in the developing world?
How can we bring a better help and hope to those who need it most?
How can we improve what we are doing right now? 

It starts by changing our mindset.

For too long we have sub-consciously settled for the status quo.  For too long we have used the same old strategies and tools.  For too long we have been satisfied with ‘pretty good’.  It is time to raise expectations and demand more!  It is time to use our creativity and connection to update and innovate!  It is time for us to bring a better help and hope to the world and not rest until these problems are ended.

It starts by changing our mindset.

We need to have a “Because mindset”.  This is a mindset that does not settle.  This is a mindset that always seeks to do more.  This is a mindset of innovation – better, smarter, faster, more effective.  This is a mindset of common sense and solidarity and not just helping but really ending these problems.  Having a Because mindset will change how we do humanitarian aid.  It will change our strategy, our products and tools, and our overall goals.  It will change how we view success, and it will change how we view failure, too.  Basically, a Because mindset will change things.

If we are going to update humanitarian aid, then we need to update our mindset.

We need a Because mindset.

Does any of this humanitarian aid stuff not make sense to anybody else? 

I mean, we have tons of food – and yet people still starve.  Lots of these diseases are preventable and treatable – and yet people still are suffering and dying.  We have way more than enough clothes and shoes to wear - and yet there are people without any clothing or shoes at all.  There is free, clean water at every drinking fountain in every building in America – and yet millions suffer from unclean water in developing countries.  Does this not make sense to anybody else?  Why can’t we do a better job at this?

It seems like humanitarian aid needs more common sense.  If someone is starving, give them something to eat.  If someone needs medicine, then give them medicine.  If someone needs clean water, then give them clean water.  That is just common sense.  We need to incorporate a common sense mentality to the way we do humanitarian aid.  Even though it isn’t as simple as I am making it out to be – well, in many regards, it really is as simple as I am making it out to be.  The entire theory of humanitarian aid is based on simplicity and common sense.  We need to get back to the common sense elements of bringing help and hope to those who need it the most.  And then we need to find better ways to really get it done.

That’s where the innovation part comes in.  In all reality, I know that things are not as easy as they seem, but I also know that we can do better at this stuff.  We can update our capacity for identifying those who are in need of supplies and aid and tracking their progress.  We can find creative and common sense ways to get people the things they need when they need it.  We can invent better products and tools to give to people so that it lasts longer, is more efficient, and makes better sense for their lives.  It will take some very hard work, but we can do this.  We can innovate solutions so that we can do a better job.

Really, it’s not like we don’t know what to do with these huge social issues.  People who are starving need to eat.  People with unclean water need clean water.  People with diseases need medicine.  We know what to do with most every single problem in the world.  We have the solutions.  We have the resources.  We have the ability.  There’s people who desperately need help.  So let’s give them what they need.  It’s not that simple, but it is that simple.

That’s common sense.

Now it’s not going to be handed to us on a silver platter.  It will definitely take some hard work, creativity, and ingenuity.  We have to give the best of ourselves to make a better humanitarian aid.  But we can do it.  We can find ways to do things smarter, faster, better, and with more effectiveness.

And that’s innovation.

And that all equals Common Sense Innovation – a new and improved strategy for humanitarian aid.

The iPod. 

It is one of the greatest inventions of human history (in my opinion!).  One of the greatest things about it is that it keeps getting better.  It started with the old, clunky iPod, and now it has slowly innovated its way up to the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Throughout the years it has been updated constantly to make it all that it can be – the very best that it can be.  Aren’t you glad the designers of the iPod did not just stop with the first model but have kept right on improving and updating and making it better and better and better?  Isn’t innovation great?

Innovation.  It is one of the driving forces of business.  It is something that companies need to stay alive.  It is the new backbone of economy.  From Apple to Dell to Microsoft to GE to Sprint to Verizon to almost any corporation or business large or small – all of these companies are focused on constantly improving their product or service to make it faster, cheaper, smarter, better, and more effective.  Organizations spend millions and millions of dollars on research and development to create innovations in their industry.  Really smart people are paid a lot of money to develop the newest update or upgrade and make their products and services better than before.  Truly, innovation is necessary for value, for profits, for competition, and ultimately for survival. 

But with all of this innovation going on in the for-profit business world – where is all of the innovation for the poorest of the poor?  Who is going to create new and better solutions for them?  When are there going to be faster, smarter, more effective products and tools that make sense for them?

Innovation is happening every single day by leaps and bounds in the business world, and yet the humanitarian aid sector is getting left behind.  There is not near enough innovation going on in humanitarian aid.  We have been using the same old strategies with the same old products and tools to fight the same long-standing issues that still remain.  It is about time that we start to use our creativity, ingenuity, knowledge, skills, and resources to start to innovate – for them.

Can you imagine the new products and tools that we can create for those living in extreme poverty? 
Can you begin to see the difference we can make by using our capacity for innovation for those who need it most?
A better bed net?  A better way to fight starvation?  A better system for clean water, for personal hygiene, for preventative diseases? 

It’s time for us to start to innovate – for them.

“…because…” 

 It is a word that connects two thoughts with a reason.  And with all of the energy and time and resources that we are trying to put into innovating humanitarian aid, there should be a reason behind it.  So what is the connection for why we should seek to help those suffering from the effects of extreme poverty by updating humanitarian aid?  What is our reason?

Because we can.

We should seek to help other simply because we can.  We should innovate better ways of doing humanitarian aid simply because we can.  We should try to do things better and faster and smarter and more effective and more relevant because we really can.  This is not some far-reaching idealistic vision that will never happen; these are things that we can do.  These are things that we have the capacity to do.

One of the main reasons for doing these things is because we have the ability to do them.  Unfortunately in this world there are “have’s” and “have not’s”.  Unless you live in extreme poverty where you struggle to make it from day to day, you are one of the “have’s”.  As such, we possess an extensive capacity to help those less fortunate.  We have a wealth of knowledge, skill, money, and resources.  We have the opportunity and the ability to make an impact.  We can make an impact.

But why this need to improve?  Aren’t we doing okay right now with what we have going on?  Why try to innovate?  Because… we can.  We totally can.  Have you seen the amazing industries and companies here in the United States?  Have you seen the technological and operational inventions and innovations that we have made in the past 50 years?  In fact, if you are a for-profit company and you do not innovate your product or service by making it better, faster, cheaper, more effective – then you will be out of business!  We do it all the time for ourselves and our businesses.  We can do it for them, too.  We really can.       

Many times people living in extreme poverty cannot make life better for themselves.  They are stuck in their cycle of disease, injustice, or position without the capacity to help themselves.  Who do those who cannot help themselves look to for aid?  They look to those who have the ability and capacity.  They look to those who can.   

So what is our reason for doing all of these things?  Why?

Because… we can.

“…because…” 

 It is a word that connects two thoughts with a reason.  And with all of the energy and time and resources that we are trying to put into innovating humanitarian aid, there should be a reason behind it.  So what is the connection for why we should seek to help those suffering from the effects of extreme poverty by updating humanitarian aid?  What is our reason?

Because people need it. 

This should be the central motivation of everything that humanitarian aid attempts and accomplishes.  This is the foundational reason why Because International is trying to create innovative solutions to these problems.  Really, this is the reason why anyone helps anybody: because they need it.

It might sound extremely basic, and that’s because it is.  This is one of the common sense elements that needs to be re-discovered in humanitarian aid.  There are huge social and humanitarian problems going on in the world that are severely limiting people’s opportunities for life.  More and more people are suffering and dying from the many effects of extreme poverty.  Common sense tells us the same thing that we all see with our own eyes - we plain old need to do a better job at helping people! 

Why are we trying to make humanitarian aid better?  Because people need it. 
Why are we being very intentional about trying to create more effective solutions for desperate problems?  Because people need it. 
Why are we trying to do all of these things?  Because people need it.

It’s common sense.  It’s basic.  It’s sometimes forgotten. But most importantly – it’s true.

Because… people need it.

“…because…” 

It is a word that connects two thoughts with a reason.  And with all of the energy and time and resources that we are trying to put into innovating humanitarian aid, there should be a reason behind it.  So what is the connection for why we should seek to help those suffering from the effects of extreme poverty by updating humanitarian aid?  What is our reason?

It’s the right thing to do.

It’s our responsibility. It’s our challenge.  It’s our mission.  It is the expectation that we can feel deep in our hearts.  We need to help people in desperate need simply because it is the right thing to do.  And we know it.

It is not right to withhold our innovation from the people who need it most.  It is not right to use all of our creativity and ingenuity for our for-profit corporations and businesses.  We can no longer save the best of ourselves – our talents, knowledge, skills, and resources – just for companies and corporations and the business world.  Nope.  We cannot be satisfied with this any longer.  We need to innovate – for them.  We need to use our creativity and ingenuity and genius – for them.   We need to give the best of ourselves – for them.  It’s the right thing to do.

Doing something just because it’s the right thing to do.  Do people even do that anymore?  All of this is not meant to be communicated with guilt or superiority.  Really, it is just a statement of fact.  Even if people have lost sight of the truth, that does not make it less true.  Even if nobody thinks we should help those who are suffering and dying, that does not take away the fact that it is the right thing to do.  It’s time for us all to get back to one of the basics of humanitarian aid.

So why are we trying to innovate and update and make humanitarian aid better?

Because… it’s the right thing to do.