Looking Away (Again)
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 01. 2020
- Read the PIH Sierra Leone's Annual Report: www.pihsierraleone.com/our-im...
Donate to Support Maternal Health in Sierra Leone: pih.org/hankandjohn
In which John talks about looking away, a video he made (actually five, not six) years ago, and the maternal and child mortality crises in Sierra Leone's Kono district.
If you're able to make a large ($2,000 or more) donation to support the Maternal Center of Excellence, join the matching fund! donate.pih.org/page/contribut... (If you have questions, or are considering a large gift and want more information, you can also email me at sparksflyup at gmail. Thanks!)
----
Subscribe to our newsletter! nerdfighteria.com/nerdfighter...
And join the community at nerdfighteria.com effyeahnerdfighters.com
Help transcribe videos - nerdfighteria.info
John's twitter - / johngreen
Hank's twitter - / hankgreen
Hank's tumblr - / edwardspoonhands
Listen to The Anthropocene Reviewed at www.theanthropocenereviewed.org
Listen to Dear Hank and John at www.dearhankandjohn.org
EDIT: We've raised over $70,000 JUST IN THE LAST TEN HOURS. Thank you. Okay, six things. 1. You can make a monthly (or one-time!) donation to Partners in Health Sierra Leone at pih.org/hankandjohn (We've now passed 4,000 total donors!)
2. Read PIH Sierra Leone's annual report here: www.pihsierraleone.com/our-impact And get an overview of their work here: www.pihsierraleone.com/
3. If you're interested in making a large donation to this project, you can join the matching fund directly by donating $2,000 or more to donate.pih.org/page/contribute/be-the-match-for-sierra-leone OR if you want to learn more/have questions, email me at sparksflyup (at) gmail. (Please do not spam this email. It is my real email address. Thanks!)
4. THANK YOU: to everyone at PIH Sierra Leone, but especially to Jon Lascher and Isata Dumbuya for getting information to me very quickly to help with this video.
5. If you're interested, here's the Looking Away video I made (more like five than six) years ago: czcams.com/video/QNJmg4pwLBQ/video.html
6. Also thank you to my brother for making a huge donation to this project and never once asking for any kind of acknowledgment or recognition. -John
Thank you John (and Hank).
i tried to donate from Czech republic but i need to select one of yours State/Region/Province.... i will select some random one tho ...still ... our State/Region/Province do not look like anything from America :)
Thank you for this video and your partnership, John, and thank you to the 3000+ people supporting maternal health in Sierra Leone.
Is there a way to donate from Ireland?
I donated. If I may I'd like to make a suggestion, number of personal info question on the donation form made me very uneasy. Why ask all these name/address/email questions if I'm donating via paypal anyway. Shouldn't it be enough for me just to login to paypal and say "Yes"?
As a broke college student, I can’t say how much I appreciate whenever you touch upon the power of listening as a form of giving. Not having enough to donate used to eat away at me. I hope I’ll be financially stable enough in the future to help fund projects; but, it’s things like this that remind me how important it is to remember how to truly listen and champion causes outside of myself.
It really is a form of giving! And one day when you have money to donate, that listening you have done will help orient your life and your values (and your donations) in big, big ways. So thank you for working to listen. -John
There is an internet extension called Tab for a Cause. It’s free but when you open a tab it uses the ad revenue that page generates to raise money for charity. There are multiple charities you can donate your “hearts” to, donating that money to that organization.
+
I wish charities didn’t have to depend on the good will of wealthier people. Imagine if supporting charities was opt-out instead of opt-in. If you had to explicitly choose not to donate, perhaps you would end up donating more and charities would have more resources.
Sierra … A few years ago I was in a similar situation. I wanted to give, but couldn't. Today I can and just finished, but now reading your post... I am going back to give a $101.01 donation in your honor - to show that your listening and desire to help did, in fact, have a direct positive impact. Thanks for your story and inspiring me to get a little bit closer to awesome. DFTBA
"The future is here, it's just not well distributed"
So, so true. I always think of it this way: In 1820, tuberculosis was an absolutely terrifying disease. After coughing up blood, the English poet John Keats famously told a friend, "This drop of blood is my death warrant." And it was. Most of us in rich countries now think of tuberculosis as a disease that killed 19th century poets, but in fact, TUBERCULOSIS IS STILL THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST COMMUNICABLE DISEASE. STILL. Not malaria or influenza or HIV. Tuberculosis. -John
Sitting here, asking myself: HOW, John, being a cryer you are, did you manage to film this video without sheding a tear?!??
Anyway ... thankyou.
I don't think he did
His voice gets shaky at one point
He said he took cry breaks.
I cried a lot; I just cut it out of the video. :) -John
The jumpcuts hide the tears
+
Y’all never fail to make me realize the world isn’t as meaningless as it feels on my bad mental health days so thanks for that.
Indeed, that is a lie that our brains tell us. It's hard to know it's a lie when the brain is shouting it at us, but it is. There is meaning. Your being here does matter. -John
@@vlogbrothers You always find such beautiful words. Thank you so much.
Nemo Forvermore He should really be a novelist.
@@mariewikiwaka3851 definitely!
Speaking of being being good with words, your comment verbalized perfectly why I watch/listen to Green Bro’s stuff.
As a premature baby who now works three floors down from the NICU in which he was born, thank you.
Both my sister and my brother went to the nicu when they were born. The idea that maybe neither of them would be around if we weren’t so privileged to be born where we were is absolutely terrifying and awful.
Yeah, for me as well. I am so grateful that your siblings are here with us. (And also that my son is here with us, who might not have survived childbirth in an impoverished healthcare system.) -John
I was born via emergency c-section. If not for the total privilege & luck of being in the country & city that I was born in, my mother and I would have died. I will be donating as soon as I can.
This comment reminded me that I was also born via emergency c-section. It mattered so little to the outcome of my mother and my lives that I had literally forgotten. I think that the most profound aspect of privilege might be the ability to not notice or care when things like this are happening. Thank you, John, for paying attention and helping Nerdfighters do the same.
@@beckyakidd Same with my and my mother. She also needed a blood transfusion to survive.
I was also born via emergency c-section, and without access to modern medical equipment and sanitary facilities my mother and I would have both died. We definitely won the privilege lottery by being born in the right place.
When my parents tell the story of how I was born, it's told as a miracle. I came too early and would have had too many health complications to survive if I had been born at any other point in history or any other hospital. I happened to be born in a hospital with a renowned neonatal surgeon. I should have probably died and my mother should have died, but we were lucky. Even though my lungs are still too small and my heart doesn't always work right, I'm still one of the lucky ones. I don't know why some people are born to privilege and others are not. I don't know why some babies live and others don't make it. I do know that as one of the lucky ones, I have a responsibility to decrease the suffering of others, to decrease world suck.
I have a similar story to my birth, and feel the same way. Thank you for putting it so well.
If everyone with wealth was a quarter the man John is, the world would be a much, much better place.
I’ve been watching Hank and John work so hard to support PIH over the last several months, wishing I could contribute. And today I realized something. I spend 5 dollars on a lot of things every month. Spotify, a snack, many cups of coffee, but not a cause that matters. That just changed. I have officially signed up to give $5 a month to support maternal health. Thanks John, for being my inspiration to do more good in the world.
+
THat's amazing. Thank you! $5 a month will be matched to $10 a month. Over 5 years, that's $600 to support the MCoE, which is a HUGE contribution, so don't think of it as small! -John
+
This means so much to us, Katie. Thank you!
+
John, you need to know that you are a great person. I can tell you're really wrestling with a lot of guilt and I totally understand that. Good people always wrestle with the fact they could do more to help those around them. I'm here to tell you that you're a beautiful person and should feel no guilt. You've spread love and joy to millions while also helping those less fortunate. You're a shining beacon of hope that many of us look towards for inspiration and love.
I know you likely won't see this John, but we love you. To be loved by someone you've never met is likely a feeling most people will never understand, so I won't pretend to know how you feel. But just know that no matter what, you...are...loved.
Thank you John.
Jeez, this was really lovely. Thanks. And yes, it's important to wrestle with how to do more. (And also important for me to find ways to do more. That stuff should be ongoing. Anyway, thanks again.) -John
@@vlogbrothers You're very welcome sir. :-)
Me: One of my personal heroes just responded to one my my CZcams Comments! *swoon*
Wife: Which one?! Conan O'Brien or John Green?!
Me: John Green!
Wife: The one I like!
Me: You don't like Conan? You don't think he's awesome and hilarious?
Wife: We need to talk...
What a kind and thoughtful comment! I couldn't agree more :)
+
+
That video is 6 years old? I remember it so well and still think about it regularly
That's really nice to hear. (Also it turns out it is more like five years old. I'm bad at math.) -John
As a Type 1 (AKA genetic) Diabetic, the idea that people still die from lack of insulin (which was invented in the 1920s) is just horrifying.
Until last year, no one with Type 1 diabetes in Kono was receiving any kind of insulin treatment. Horrifying, indeed. -John
It's especially discouraging that it can still happen in the USA (mostly due to costs) as if "we can't even help our own people so how will it get better"
These videos help me keep at least some optimism though; not only does the project benefit specific areas, but I believe it benefits everyone as people learn that being alive is not an economic decision and should not have a price
While this is a somewhat US-centric idea it seems to affect a lot of how these issues are handled; by no means do I mean to take attention away from situations like that in Kono
Even Americans are dying because how expensive insulin is here.
I knew that this was really important, as a crisis and to john specifically, but I didn't UNDERSTAND until today. John, you're aren't a stranger to tragedy or loss or death but that it inspires you to work harder for change presents us all with a model for how we should respond in the face of systemic heartbreak. I was 12 when the first Looking Away was posted and I understood to the best of my ability then. This video might be the bridge between seeing and issue and feeling an issue, between knowing and understanding. In a world where we're constantly being bombarded with atrocity, it's a feat to access empathy we've long learned to dull the pain from.
This such a beautiful comment. Thank you. (And thanks for sticking with us since you were 12!) -John
You seem like an amazing person, this comment was very touching ❤️
i was completely shocked when i clicked on the 'response' notif and saw "reply from vlogbrothers". i was happy receiving a nice comment from someone but seeing a second comment from john im a little dumbfounded? when someone you love to hear from says the same to you it's even more special and validating. ive been having a pretty rough time and doubting what Im doing/questioning my direction on top of it. and this helped. perks of watching 38 minutes after upload, i suppose. DFTBA
I think even though these kinds of videos are hard to watch, and I'm sure very hard to make, they seem like some of the most important of all of vlogbrothers. Thank you for raising awareness John and showing how far a place can come in only a few years. I can't wait to see what 5 years from now it looks like
Thanks. I can't wait either! -John
Watching for a second time, crying a little for a second time, then sending to everyone I know
Thanks! I had to take a few cry breaks while filming to be honest. -John
vlogbrothers it was when you were so choked up that I started crying too. Keep caring deeply, John. It matters so much ❤️
Thank you for encouraging me to stop looking away. Just made a $5 monthly donation. Once I'm out of college and can afford more I intend to increase that donation. As soon as my roommate's home from class I will be telling her about this as well. Thank you so much for the work you do and for encouraging the rest of us and giving us the opportunity to make a positive impact however we can
Thank you so much! That $5 will be matched to $10, which over 5 years will mean $600 toward better maternal and child care in SL. That will go a VERY LONG WAY in Kono, so thank you! -John
John, Thank you for your commitment to creating a culture of urgency and philanthropy.
Oh I like that phrase "culture of urgency" very much!! I AM GOING TO STEAL IT. :) -John
Video: more than 4 minutes long.
Me: *this is extremely important*
+
+
I'm surprised by the lack of people noting that this video is longer than 4 minutes, calls for punishment (none that I have seen), or even saying "It's ok, we'll treat this as educational")
Definitely an important topic.
+
+
As a student, I wish I could contribute monetarily, but I really appreciate how, with videos like this and the OG Looking Away 5 years ago, you emphasize the importance of simply giving critical issues attention. I'm going to share the donate link absolutely everywhere I can think of and educate myself as much as possible. Thanks for making huge, complex, systemic issues seem a little more approachable, John.
Thank you! -John
+
This reminds me of a teacher I had who said that acknowledging somebody's humanity is often something they really need, but rarely get
@@Flowtail that's a really nice sentiment!
These problems remain hard, but it’s been wonderful to watch these updates - this community growing into a force for good in the world has been one of my principal joys of my internet life.
Same. :) -John
I set up a monthly donation of $5, which I can't really afford....
But I "can't really afford" it more in an "I have a decent job and fail to live within my means" way rather than in an "I will go hungry" way.... I hope that I'll be able to continuously increase the amount.
Thank you for your persistent quest to decrease world suck.
I applaud you and Hank for being exactly the kind of people that I would hope to achieve fame and fortune: generous, attentive, and looking for every opportunity to use your platform in support of others. In the 13 years I’ve been watching you, you set an example that has taught me to be more compassionate to my fellow people.
Thank you
Thanks for sticking with us all this time, Daniel! And for the kind words. -John
I'm reminded of the privilege I had during childbirth when I needed an emergency c-section, and there was no wait. It just happened. Wow. This video took my breath away.
Yeah, I think the average Decision to Incision time in most wealthy countries is under 30 minutes. They are working so hard at KGH to make emergency c-sections safe and effective, and I really hope that in five years there will be many more stories like yours in Sierra Leone. (And I'm so glad you were able to get excellent care!) -John
I almost couldn't watch this. My little 5 month old son is playing on my lap, and the idea that he might not be here if I was less privileged is devistating to me.
Thank you for you work.
Love that you show the bilirubin lights at 2:31 - treatment for newborn jaundice can prevent kernicterus, which is a easily preventable with proper treatment. I have kernicterus which resulted in my severe cerebral palsy and auditory neuropathy. My disability could have been easily prevented with a simple $1 blood test and treatment. Yes it happened in the United States - but it shouldn't happen anywhere. Thanks for the work you do, John and Hank!
Wow, I did not know any of that (including that I was showing bilirubin lights). Thank you for sharing this information with us! -John
This video inspired me to go fill out volunteer applications with my local women's shelter and humane society. I've been meaning to do it for ages but hadn't gotten around to it. It literally took me about a half hour - I can't believe I've been putting it off for so long. Maybe it was my way of looking away. I can't donate money, but I can donate my time. Thank you.
Thank you so much for putting your energy and good will into the world. I see you, and I appreciate you. You are making the world a better place.
That's awesome! Thank you! -John
@@vlogbrothers I just signed up for my orientation at the women's shelter and then I see you responded! Is this kismet?! I've been watching your channel for years, you just made my day 😭
Already donated monthly as I can understand because I’m from Belize where the situation is often similar
Thank you. -John
Thank you for this John. I’m grateful for this lens of perspective and glimpse of hope.
I have never seen John more persuasive than he is in these videos. The good that he wants to achieve and the care that he's put into doing so simply speak volumes.
Money is crucially and critically important; however, what I love about you and Nerdfighteria and PIH is that you are not just focused on the money, but also on two other factors that are necessary for success: processes and intent. You can throw money at a problem until all the money is gone, but if the intent is for profit and the processes are selfish, you get a shiny new thing that helps only a few. You are working for a fully functional system and so many lives will be saved and enriched by it. Thank you for your action, thank you for sharing, and thank you for not looking away.
+
++++
I always appreciate these videos. They manage to blend talking about what is happening, as heartbreaking and devastating as it may be, while still reminding me that people are still good. That people actually are trying. Thanks, John.
Thank you for all you have done, the impact that you are having on the world is beautiful and there are going to be many children that will become adults that will make impacts on this world. The ripple will continue until the end of the Anthropocene. Thank you for all you do.
+
As someone who has neither the time nor the attention to spread to issues like these on a daily basis (however much I wish I could - life is insanely busy as a student) I could not possibly look away when someone actively asks me to listen like this. I wish I could do more to help. And someday, when I have the resources to do more than simply survive, I will.
First, thank you so much John, for the work that you do. I appreciate your willingness to look at systemic problems, even when they seem huge and intractable.
A possible angle for fundraising: I recently auctioned some crocheted items I made to support my school's student need fund (we use it for winter clothing, work uniforms, books and tools for our kids who need some extra help).
Would it be possible for crafty people in Nerdfighteria to do something similar? Turn it into a specific event where people are all bidding at the same time? I know it helps people to have something tangible in return for their donation, and I know there are a lot of really talented people in this community.
Very good idea! We have a somewhat analogous project during the p4a called the nerdfighter art perk, which we've kept from doing as a bidding for specific items thing just because back when we used to do that it was very hard/complicated. But it's worth looking into. Thanks for the idea! -John
I might not have a lot of money- but boy do I know how to make stuff. I will make all the things should you ask me too (I also work at a craft store so I get supplies pretty cheap)
@@vlogbrothers My husband is an artist, and we've donated art prints to various causes over the years (most recently for climate action.) If you go ahead with this, we're in.
What a wonderful idea, Jennifer!
Nerdcraftfairia?
Somehow I'm seeing this video for the first time. John, your sincerity is gut-wrenching. If only you from January 2020 knew how much you and this community have raised in 3 years. Congratulations, and thank you.
The most valuable thing we have is our attention. If you can't give money, you don't have to look away either. Spreading this project will help enormously too
You made me cry again, John Green. Thanks for reminding me how big the world is. (In the process of making a donation now).
guilt is one of those emotions that never really goes away, no matter what. it’s frustrating to hear others tell you that you’re not to blame for something, because you will never stop feeling like you are, so i won’t. john, i just wanted to say that i think you’re an incredibly kind, empathetic, and generous person. you’re doing all you can to help, and, to me, that’s what matters. thank you for all the good you put into the world. p.s. i convinced my friends to donate their lunar new year money to pih with me!
Sounds like PIH is making good progress & you are using your platform & time & money to help which is great.
It's been over a year, and I can see my donations coming out of my bank account every month, but watching this again still made me burst into tears SEVERAL times, for each emotion you triggered.
I'm glad that you're so persistent on this sort of change, thank you.
I love you Mr. Green, you inspire me to become a better person. Greetings from Iraq. ❤
"Looking Away" has always been one of my favorite vlogbrothers vids. Ever since you made it, I've tried to be more mindful of where I don't look-- and make myself look.
This is so good and so important. Just being aware of what we pay attention to, and why, makes such a huge difference in the way we think, and therefore the way we act long term.
John, you make me feel ashamed and proud, at the same time. Thank you for the gift, and the hope.
Wow. Can't believe it's been 6 years since the first looking away video. It was such a strong video and so heartfelt and heartbreaking.
Actually more like five; I'm very bad at math. But thanks for the kind words. The projects that video helped sponsor are--or at least were very recently--still providing clean water solutions to thousands of people! -John
@@vlogbrothers 5... 6... Feels like the same thing haha. Also, thanks for replying, John! You've definitely added some awesomeness to my birthday. 😊
You manage to strike a beautiful and necessary balance between hope and urgency, self-forgiveness and self-accusation. We need to find a way to take personal responsibility for all that we've failed to do, without becoming paralyzed by guilt or shame. Thank you.
+
Thank you for this John. ❤❤❤
In 6 minutes you made me excited, devastated and hopeful.
Thank you so much for turning this ongoing tragedy into something we can touch. With a few clicks, I signed up to donate monthly. I think about how every single person is so rare, so unlikely, so unique, about the irreplaceable universe contained in the experience of each human being, and the idea of that universe being ripped away before a child even has the chance to live is heartbreaking. It's unimaginable. With consequences so drastic and a solution so simple-- click click click sacrifice the price of a coffee-- the decision to donate was a no-brainer for me, and that's only because you two made it possible, and because you're here keeping me accountable for my privilege, along with thousands of others. Because of you, we can help change the world. Thank you.
Six years ago, I was badly struggling with my mental health and I watched the first Looking Away video. I found it painful but helpful. I shared it to Facebook and encouraged friends and family to watch it. Six years later, I am being properly treated for my mental illness and having more good days than bad ones, but still struggling with the how much suffering there is everywhere. This video feels like fate, even though I'm not a believer. Thank you, John and Hank (whoops, Hank and John, sorry), for always being there through my mental health journey and for helping me more than you realise. I am so grateful. Your videos always touch on the things I am struggling with and help me feel so much less alone. DFTBA, because you guys really really are :D
I am glad to have found this video 💚
This video while sad, is incredibly important, I’m watching for a second time and it brought me to tears. Thank you for providing a platform for such an ignored issue.
i know why this is so important to you guys now. what you guys are doing is absolutely remarkable, you are using your platform for good, and i am so glad to say i am one of your fans
Thank you. Thank you for caring and for giving simple calls to action. Sometimes the tasks seem far too big to find a way to quickly give of ourselves to make a difference.
Thank you for using your platform in the way that you have. It's so important. Your books are amazing and have touched me greatly since I started reading them more than a decade ago, but it's your work to help others that I find truly inspiring.
Thank you for using your platform to help others. Thank you for always caring. Just donated a small amount because of this video. ♡
nafnaf Heeby Jeebies look more into the country you’re donating to before you send your money. There are plenty of African countries that need your money that don’t mutilate 90% of their girls genitals, like they do in Sierra Leon. Image your money going to that. If you think that this isn’t going to happen at a maternity ward then you don’t understand the situation with FGM in Africa
Thankful to hear about all the progress bring made. It was probably not the best decision to watch this while 37 weeks pregnant. Currently sobbing.
As a young woman who wants to have kids someday, the knowledge of how needlessly dangerous it is for other women to do so is shocking and upsetting in a very visceral way. Thank you for shedding light on it, and providing a tangible way to help. Whether you feel like you’re doing enough, you are doing something (and enabling others to do so), and that is to be applauded.
It always hurts me to hear about people dying of causes that we've known the solution to for years but never got around to sharing properly. Thanks for sharing Jonny boy
Thank you for talking about this across a number of videos, I'm going to start donating. I don't know why I hadn't before other than the fact that I also wasn't treating this as an emergency. I've been thinking about the principle of tithing and I think I'm going to try to scale up to 10% of my income being donated to important work like this.
Thank you so much! Hank and I are longtime fans of the practice of secular tithing (or in my case somewhat nonsecular tithing, I guess), and it's great to hear you'll be joining us in supporting PIH! -John
I hope to some day be able to contribute to humanity the way that you do. For the time being, I will thank you for your courage and your willingness to help
Your attention is enough
Once again, John brings me to tears. How I love the work you do. Thank you!!!
Thank you for this story.
In 2016 I stayed in Rwanda for some months, where it was easier to look away, too. I saw suffering people in public hospitals. Only the private clinics had enough supplies to give actual care. There's a long way to make change part of a society that is so poor. In hindsight I realize now I wasn't part of the solution to systematic change, we mostly helped temporarily.
I'm glad you're giving people a platform, a way to be part of good change, as it's sometimes difficult to find that yourself.
Thank you for demonstrating that it's possible to act with responsibility & resilience in the face of guilt. So many people seem to be afraid of guilt, as if it is the worst possible emotion one can feel, but it's actually a healthy emotion if it propels you to act to use your power & resources in ways you wouldn't have otherwise.
I remember watching the first video - and sending it to a friend to show the kind of work you guys do - but more importantly to talk about how he felt like he looked away when he traveled as a volunteer helping suffering kids. He felt he didn't do enough even though he did a lot. A
So thanks for that video to start an important discussion about the feelings we are faced with when we aren't able to make enough of a change. And thanks for this video - to show that change happens even if it slower than we would like it to.
(I have no money right now - but I'll check my budget for February to see if I can fit in a donation!)
Thanks for sticking with us all these years, and I'm glad that first video could lead to an important conversation between you and your friend. (And please don't worry about not being able to donate!) -John
You are such a good man. The world is lucky to have you in it. I am glad I didn't look away. I will endeavor to continue with my eyes and heart open
John, you are one of my favorite humans. Your dedication to continually look at the places where you fail to live up to your potential for good inspires me to do the same. I also stand on a mountain of privilege. I was sent to the best schools, the best doctors, the best therapists while so many billions lack even basic resources. I know that my lifestyle is only possible because of systems of inequality that I knowingly and unknowingly take part in. Despite all of these wicked complex problems, you're showing me, and millions of others a way forward to a better future for us all.
I'm a college graduate who just got her first real job, and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than to donate!!! Thank you for this video John!
I cannot afford to donate myself, but I will exhaustively seek whatever donations I can from friends, family, and of course absolute strangers! Thanks for the inspiration, John!
Thank you for your hard work to make this world a better place, and inspiring others to do their bit. And making me acutely aware that if can afford to impulsively buy a new dress that I really don't need, I can afford to donate an equal amount to help others.
John, I started reading your books about two years ago and I recently discovered your youtube channel. Big fan here.
I just wanted to say that what you're doing is great. You're making the perfect use of your time, money and attention.
It always feels like we could've done better, but you did what you could and we nerdfighters really respect that.
You're not just a great writer, you're also an awesome person with a big heart filled with love and generosity for humanity. Be kind to yourself. We love you.
-Nerdfighter from Pakistan.
I can't donate a thing, but I appreciate your existence so much. Thank you for doing good and raising the vibe in general and thank you for taking on this project specifically, I know it'll change lives for the much better.
This video hit me so hard. My son was born 6 weeks premature via emergency c-section and spent his first 7 weeks in the NICU. From when they decided I needed a c-section to when it happened was about 5 minutes. I can't imagine having to wait 1-3 hours. I don't know if my son would have survived that long; he barely survived as it was. I am so lucky and grateful that I live in a nation with quality national healthcare and could get the care my son and I needed. I wish I had more resources to help with the PIH project, but I will see what I can do, whether that's to make a small donation or try to spread the message to others, or both.
Every-time I thought I got a hold of the crying, more crying started. Thank you John for sharing this
I started watching vlogbrothers in 2008, when I was one year out of college and struggling financially (and overall). Now I'm in my mid-30s and a SINK. My plans for a family didn't pan out, but pregnant women worldwide deserve access to medically-assisted pregnancies and deliveries, and no child should die due to a lack of money/access to healthcare. I just signed up for a recurring monthly donation. Thanks, John.
Thank you highlighting this for us in Ireland, John.
Bless your heart John, thank you for remembering the power of listening and your ongoing devotion to these causes.
Off topic but John you are literally my favorite person and I stg Looking For Alaska saved my life
Today I learned what stg means. (And thanks!) -John
LOL i assumed it was a typo but now I learned it too!
Your passion and dedication to making the world a better place inspires me everyday. Sometimes I feel guilty that I’m not doing enough, not donating, not being loud enough about the important issues, but you make me feel like any little I do can have a positive, big impact. Thank you!
This is why I do have hope that things can change. We CAN make a difference. I’m proud to donate.
my Christmas gift from my dad this year was for partners in health, and it’s the best thing that I’ve asked for ever, man
Ahhh that's so lovely! Please thank your dad for me! (And thanks to you for asking for such a present!) -John
Thank you for this video John. And thank you for your attention to Sierra Leone.
There is this episode of the West Wing, where CJ is talking to a billionaire and he asks where he should place his billions to help the African continent the most. And she said 'Make roads' because its hard to fundraise for something so essential but complicated because it is long term and without the urgency of immediacy. I think about that episode all the time.
Particularly when I'm asking myself, where should I spend my attention and money and privilege, and usually I find that it is where it is easy or desirable to look away from...
I am so consistently reassured that by my giving money to this PIH, I am helping something that deeply matters. My mother and brother would probably be dead if we hadn't have had the access to healthcare that we do. I am grateful for that privilege and becoming more and more aware of the responsibility that it is. I need to stop looking away.
Thanks again John.
This is one of my favorite videos on this channel, hands down! It’s amazing how you have the courage to speak out on your regrets and I know we can’t do anything to help you feel better about this, but you have our support! It’s amazing that you did take the time to give these people a platform, you even helped set up donation platforms too and you even took the time to go there in person!!! You are doing something, and we all know something is always better than nothing!
Just started a $5.29 monthly donation. Thanks for your witness and work to improve maternal and infant mortality rates, John.
Thank you, John. The darkness has felt overwhelming for me - and it is difficult to fully acknowledge that deeper darkness is out there, and made darker by my own life, my own lack of action. But it’s empowering to realize that we can make a difference together. We don’t have to settle for injustice and unnecessary suffering. We can all resist it, together. It means so much to me to be apart of funding PIH in Uganda, and it means more when you put it in the truly urgent picture and circumstance like this. Light doesn’t always come easily, but it comes. And I can be apart of bringing it. I needed to be reminded of this today, and I thank you for doing that.
John, apart from the direct good you and Hank do for those in need, you have also done an unmesaruble amount of good by inspiring a whole generation to be better. I know I wouldn't be nearly as kind or as giving if it wasn't for your example. So thank you for all the years of inspiration and let's make the world a better place together.
Development projects like this can be so hard to make sustainable, but it's clear that PIH really know what they're doing to create sustainable long term solutions so that for many generations to come there will be better care for mothers and children. Thank you John and PIH for giving me hope in a world that often doesn't feel hopeful.
Yeah, it's a lot easier to build than it is to do maintenance, which is something I've learned over the years. That is indeed one of the reasons we value working with PIH so much--from Haiti to Rwanda, they have decades of experience not just building healthcare centers but also supporting them over the long term. -John
Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place. It’s comforting to hear that conditions are improving but it’s a strong reminder that it’s not enough and we can’t get comfortable and turn a blind eye to the suffering in the world. It’s an important reminder that we must do more. Across the globe and in our own backyards. I’ll be making a small donation, I don’t have much money, but if I can afford CZcams Premium, I can afford to help.
Thank you for this John. I knew this was something important, but this really made me think about how important. I would not be alive if I had been born in the facilities in Sierra Leone. Many people I know may not have either. I have set a reminder to donate once I sort out my fortnightly finances. Thank you, thank you. This video really hit home and I want to help make it better.
I can't really think of a CZcams video that's moved me as much as this one. Thanks, John. I've amended my monthly contribution.
I cried during the video and then reading the comments I'm crying again. Ya'll are wonderful human beings. Together we are truly changing the world. Thanks for the reminder of how interconnected we are. How, when we come together and pay attention together, we can create solutions together.
Nerdfighters convinced me to spend with kiva and I've been doing it for more than 3 years now.
This video got me because I was born from an emergency C-section, and both my twin and I spent significant amounts of time in the NICU. My twin, mom, and I all would have died if we had lived in Sierra Leone. I've been meaning to start my $10 monthly donation to PIH for a while, but this video gave me the kick to finally get out my credit card and do it.
knowing that you've helped a lot of people but still asking "what more can I do?" is why I admire you
I am so glad I found nerdfighteria and to be part of such a thoughtful, attentive, and generous community
Thank you for pointing out that we don’t have to look away. Thank you for bringing this to the front of my consciousness. Thank you for helping me let this matter to me. What a joy it is to know that you’re doing something that matters. Thank you for the thing you’re doing.
Absolutely remarkable is an absolutely remarkable phrase and I am absolutely remarking everything from now on using this absolutely remarkable phrase from today
I'm a student now, but I made a $15 donation during the PFH. I wish I could have made a larger donation, but it's the best I could do. However, I will be a full time software engineer next fall, and I cannot wait to start supporting PIH more!!!
John, you cannot hold yourself responsible for the babies you couldn't save; there are so many historical and economic and geopolitical factors at play here that are more powerful than any person or any group of people. But you CAN take some responsibility for all the babies that you DID save, and the fact that you're taking that legacy forward as a proof of concept that you can save even more babies in the face of the odds is inspiring and beautiful and we are so proud of you, and so honoured to be a part of your work.
I am currently unable to donate at this moment but I have been planning on making donations later this year and donating more in general. PIH is one I will be donating to.