We’re Now Doing a Bit More Than Helping Aspiring Business Analysts

There’s been something bugging me for the last couple of years. When it comes to being charitable, I’ve let my analysis hat dominate my heart. Ever over-analyze a decision until you can’t see straight anymore? That’s how I’ve been with charitable giving, never content that the funds would be used to benefit the right people in the right way and so deferring the decision until I can get it “perfect.”

Well, the recent success of the Business Process Analysis course (if you are on the Bridging the Gap email list, you received the emails) has inspired me to get out of my analysis paralysis and start a new habit of giving, not just with the work we do here, but also with the financial investments people make in our products and services.

Projeto 100%

I’ve committed 10% of the course revenues from each of the 3 first Business Process Analysis sessions (that’s $19.70 from each one of you that joined) to Adriana Beal’s Projeto 100%. Projeto 100% is a small movement of people helping families trapped in poverty for generations in the Northeast area of Brazil so their children can get what they need to lead a productive and fulfilling life.

This donation will specifically be used to expand the Digital Inclusion project that will teach underprivileged children and adolescents how to use a computer and increase their chances of becoming productive adults with well-paying jobs. The first laptop used in the initiative was purchased and equipped with Linux and Wikipedia in Portuguese, as well as other educational software. It is housed in “Casa do Ceara” in Brasilia, a place that provides support to many families who migrate from Ceara, one of the poorest states in Brazil, to the capital, in hopes of a better life.

Students attend volunteer-staffed sessions to learn basic computer skills. In Brazil, computers are rarely accessible outside private schools, and children with computer skills increase their chances of being offered an internship or good entry-level position when they are 15-16 by 1000% (yes, there are 3 zeros there).  Many positions are available for people with minimal computer skills and they stay open for a long time for lack of trained people.

Basic computer skills can mean the difference of being trapped in poverty forever (because they can only find work doing  low-paying manual labor), and having the opportunity to get a job that will allow them to have a career and even go to the University.

The total donations from our course fees will fund the purchase of 2 additional laptops. This means that 3 children will be able to work in parallel during the same session with a volunteer instructor, instead of just one working and others looking.

To learn more about Projeto 100% and add to our donation visit: http://projeto100.org/eng

What’s Next?

Going forward, I’m setting aside 5% of our total profits – from all books, courses, and affiliate programs – to donate to charitable causes. I’m specifically looking for organizations that, like Adriana’s, have low overhead, high transparency, and help people help themselves. I’m excited about the process. It’s been a long time coming.  

If you have any suggestions, please leave them below or contact me directly.