Compelled to Make a Difference

Stories | June 1, 2022

Author: Nicole Denton, CBM Head of Fundraising and Marketing

Before I started work with CBM Australia I didn’t realise that there was another level of poverty, which is people with disabilities living in poverty, on top of the poverty everybody knows about.

I have worked here for more than six years as Head of Fundraising, and I am still driven and compelled every day to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged people and people with disabilities.

My first overseas trip with CBM was in 2016. I went to Cameroon and was able to see our eye health work, which includes the cataract surgeries that drive Miracles Day, but also our mental health work and our orthopedic work with children with clubfoot and other ailments.

I remember we travelled to a tiny remote village near the Nigerian border, where the people there had never seen white people before. They were living in such poverty, the children would often stay home while their parents worked. Children with disabilities were left on the front porch all day waiting for their parents to arrive home.

It was so powerful to see how far-reaching our work really is, going to areas that nobody else does.

My interest in working in the non-profit sector was sparked by managing the publicity for the Bridge to Brisbane fun run, and helping to choose the nominated charity for the event.

I grew to really love working with charities and felt inspired to help others. So, when I moved from Queensland back to Victoria, I was predominately looking for a non-profit role. I am very grateful to make a difference at CBM.

Miracles Day is a chance for people to donate to allow people in some of the poorest parts of the world to access sight-saving cataract surgery. I’ve seen this work first-hand. I have seen young children see their family’s faces for the first time and seen older men and women who felt like a burden due to blindness take their eye patches off and see their spirits lift as they feel they can contribute again.

As a mother myself, I have been heartbroken by seeing children who have cataracts at a young age, but can’t access surgery until they are teenagers. We need to be getting to them early, to make sure they can live their dreams.

Witnessing these things means I teach my children about first world problems a lot. There are things here that we get annoyed about which are very minor in the scheme of things. We are extremely lucky here in Australia.

The impact of our work is about transforming lives. I love talking to our donors about the people we support. Some of our donors give out of faith – Jesus would have helped someone who was blind. Some other donors support Miracles Day because they’ve had cataract problems themselves and they know how important this work is.

Whether you pray with us for those in need, support our advocacy work for disability rights or donate to Miracles Day, we deeply appreciate everybody who shows their support for the mission and work of CBM.

This Miracles Day, August 18, can you give the Miracle of sight to change a life? Just $33 will provide sight-saving surgery to someone living in poverty. Give a Miracle today.

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