How to Fundraise on Youtube as an Ordinary Person
Note: A photo of a laptop given to a schoolchild is shown in the photo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azLbCY2ngwk
Note: "Jaja’s Keys to Becoming Fluent in English" is discussed in the video.
I'm glad my book is already available in online bookstores. You could specify which online bookstores viewers can purchase the book from in the caption if your book is already available there. Royalties from all of my writings are donated to charity. I'm grateful for Read.cash since it allows for me to receive royalties from stand-alone writings or works that aren't part of a book, a process that would otherwise be significantly longer if done through traditional publishing routes. Also, it's worth noting that Read.cash now ranks on the first pages for specific keywords on search engines. If you aim to write on this platform for a lot longer, you could enjoy the benefits of this in order to increase your writing royalties by marketing your book on your bio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkV9r_-Evfo
In my experience, the Nvidia GeForce Now application enables me to play high-end games on my laptop with 4GB of RAM. In comparison to my other Youtube videos where I had to speak in front of the camera, I typically record using the app's features and upload these videos to Youtube because they are simpler to create without compromising quality, and children and their families appreciate watching them. By merely watching these videos, some children are able to learn and enhance their English communication skills.
**Your YouTube videos could include a caption similar to the one below.**
"**Every Child a Learner**
By Khadijah (Jaja) M. Masorong
Photos of laptops and phones given to schoolchildren and their families: https://ibb.co/album/7NLhMS
Note: Photos of laptops that were purchased for 3,000 pesos each, or approximately $60 per unit, including delivery costs, and given to schoolchildren are shown instead since I would like to respect the dignity of these schoolchildren and their families while also protecting their privacy. Photos of phones that were purchased for 1,000 pesos each, or approximately $20, including delivery costs, and given to schoolchildren are also shown instead.
There is an abundance of surplus laptops that are often in mint condition and can be sold for a lower price than their original value. In my experience and according to a friend who buys and sells these computers for a profit, these surplus laptops are readily available from businesses that upgrade their equipment or have already shut down their operations. As a result, enterprising individuals like her could sell these laptops at a much lower price because they typically sell them in bulk to stores that sell them at a price lower than their original cost in retail or per customer rather than at wholesale.
Schoolchildren may fall behind in their studies without access to these gadgets and electronics, and so, some of these children regularly do labor as construction workers and other jobs to pay for their daily expenses, all the while saving money for these laptops and phones.
I, along with the families of these students, would be forever grateful if you could make a donation to support their continuous education."
Conclusion
I appreciate posting videos on YouTube because it is a platform that is available on hundreds of millions of smartphones worldwide, giving me the opportunity to share my content with the correct audiences. It is also for this reason that I have distributed my book to numerous online bookstores, as doing so allows me to reach the correct readers because these stores have millions of active readers in their database, in addition to other benefits like accessibility for book consumers.
The Bridge of Life
Note: A halo-halo is shown in the photo since I don't have actual photos of the building.
In order to see a friend, my mother and I had to climb flights of stairs one day in the year 2020 in order to reach the rooftop of a building, which was on Building A's 50th or 51st floor. The security guards of the entire residential establishment who were on duty that day let my mother and me know that the only way to get to Building B, where the friend was located at that time, was to walk across a relatively thin improvised bridge formed out of leftover construction materials. The elevators were not working correctly on that particular day, and Building B had no direct entrance at that time.
We may have only climbed a few levels, and yet we already became weary from climbing upwards from the basement to the upper floors of Building A. We soon arrived at Building A's roof, or the 50th or 51st level, and from there we were about to cross the bridge. Since there were holes in the bridge, one could already see the entirety of the sprawling city if one were to peer down from the bridge.
When my mother smiled at me, she urged me not to worry and not to look down, for she would be by my side the whole time. She then crossed the bridge while still holding my hand to lead me to Building B. Imagining myself before God in the afterlife and being questioned about my actions on earth in regards to whether or not I was sincere in my desire to reach Paradise in a well-deserved fashion gave me the strength to cross the bridge and not look down. This exact thought process still gives me strength today, whether I am facing ordinary or extraordinary situations.
Soon, my mother and I arrived at the other building and the friend's house safely. Every time we discussed this topic, we laughed heartily countless times, and I'm grateful for these experiences for bringing my mother and me closer together. And for the rest of my life, I will always hold dear these memories.
Someone could gain so many valuable lessons and knowledge from this journey. Yet the lesson I wish people to remember is that because life is so brief, one shouldn't look back on a life that was spent in regret. Instead, they should focus on a life that was inspired by laughter, joy, hope, gratitude, compassion, and so much more. While crossing the bridge, these were the key lessons I learned.
There are a lot of other similar adventures that my mother and I have experienced together, and I am thankful for every single one of them. My mother has always been the most important person in my life.
How to Donate to the MATW Project with Paypal and Gcash
Note: A salary of 9,450.00 PHP is shown in the photo. I contributed my first salary from the company that employed me in 2020 to the elderly, children, and so many other programs through Gcash, Gcash Amex Virtual Pay, Paypal, and the MATW Project, and I'm so appreciative of the opportunity to do so.
Gcash is a mobile application designed for the Philippine market, which allows Gcash users to turn their smartphones into virtual wallets for safe, speedy, and convenient money transfers. In addition to instantly paying bills, buying load, and transferring money, the app also facilitates shopping and other transactions. Gcash also offers American Express (Amex) Virtual Pay, which is a free prepaid virtual card that is linked to your Gcash account. The Amex Virtual Pay also comes with a CVV or card verification value, which is a three-digit code located at the back of the card. You will need to enter this code when making online purchases or when adding the Amex Virtual Pay to digital wallets such as Paypal. The CVV can be updated at your convenience, ensuring a higher level of security for your transactions.
In my experience, having a fully verified Gcash account is a requirement for adding Amex Virtual Pay to Paypal, as well as for verifying the Paypal account and making transactions using both Paypal and Amex Virtual Pay. Additionally, it's worth noting that there is an option to pay via Google Pay, and you can link your Gcash account to Google Pay to make transactions. I have personally used a Gcash account that is linked to Google Pay to make transactions, but I have not yet tried using this method to donate to the MATW Project. If you're interested, you can try this option for yourself by visiting the official website of the MATW Project. https://matwproject.org/
To begin, you need to connect your Gcash Amex Virtual Pay to your Paypal account and verify it. In my personal experience, I was charged approximately 100 pesos, which is almost equivalent to $2, from my Gcash balance in order to verify my Paypal account. Once this is done, you can proceed to the website of the MATW Project, where you can select any appeal you wish to donate to and specify the amount you would like to donate. Fill out the form provided and confirm your donation through Paypal. After completing the process, you will be directed to a receipt page, and a copy of the receipt will be sent to the email address you used when filling out the form on the MATW Project's website.
"So here is where I started.
I lived a pretty ordinary teenage life in a small village in Germany’s Black forest until I turned 16. With the age of 16 I was now legally allowed to work and earn money. So I applied for a couple of jobs and ended up washing dishes in one of Europe’s biggest theme parks called Europa Park.
Although the job came with benefits such as free rides (which is pretty amazing for a 16-year-old), it was pretty tough. I worked 8 hours a day with a 30 minutes break washing dishes in a very busy restaurant within the theme park. My feet used to hurt a lot by the end of the shifts as this was my very first job.
However, after four weeks my first wage dropped in my bank account and the hard work made me feel very proud. My first pay was exactly 634 Euros and 46 cents.
I had a big weakness for charity advertisements on TV channels such as ARY news. As a teenager I started to feel guilty that I have so much money (634 Euros and 46 cents) but these children are starving in front of my eyes. So I took my dad’s laptop and paid 634 Euros and 46 cents to the charity called Islamic Relief. I remember the project I donated to was the Orphans and Children Fund and Orphan Eid Gifts. Surprisingly that was the month of Ramadan as well.
This is where my life started to become pretty exciting. And I can proudly say that everything I have in my life so far is because of that very first sadaqah transaction I made with my first pay ever." (Credits to the owner)
Additional note: All of my writing's royalties go to charity. Since reading this, I have been diligently practicing charity in ways big and small.
Joy's Treasures
Note: Books are shown in the photo.
As Joy stood by the sink, scrubbing away at the dishes, she revealed something to her best friend and co-worker, Patricia. "It breaks my heart, dear friend," she said with a sigh, "to see Mama and Papa constantly struggling to decide between putting food on the table at least three times a day and sending their children to school. That's why, before I became a dishwasher at this restaurant, I spent my mornings and afternoons cleaning houses and offering laundry services to our neighbors for a humble fee after I tutor my younger siblings in their basic schoolwork, just to help ease the burden of my family." Patricia nodded, her eyes full of admiration for her friend.
Joy is a young, soft-spoken, and mild-mannered woman.
Her hair was short, neatly combed whenever she was at the restaurant where she worked as a dishwasher, and of a nondescript dark brown color. However, everywhere else, it was tousled due to the wind or her movements. Instead of being kept in a protective case, Joy's glasses are a constant companion, always perched on the bridge of her nose, revealing the kindness and gentleness that shone from her eyes. The lenses have slight scratches and smudges, which suggest that Joy uses her hands or her shirt to clean them rather than a microfiber cloth or lens cleaning solution, and the hinges are a bit loose from being opened and closed so many times.
People often found themselves at ease around her because she often listens attentively while sharing her own experiences and observations.
Joy had been a dishwasher for four years now. She cleaned plates and cutlery, pots and pans, and glasses after every customer's meal. It was part of her job description, but even when there were no dishes left behind for her to wash, she would still clean the floor, the tables, and the windows. She would wipe the dirt and dust off the chairs, counters, and tabletops, sweep up any crumbs or spilled food, then mop the floor.
Joy stood for hours every day, ensuring that every dish and utensil was clean and ready for the next customer, and her feet often ached from standing in one place for so long. However, no matter how much her feet hurt, she continued to work diligently and efficiently.
One day, as Joy was walking home from work, she noticed a young girl sitting on the sidewalk, and as it turns out, it was the same child reading the same book in the same spot as far as she could remember. The young girl and her grandmother sold Sampaguita on their spot on the streets to earn a living. Joy never learned to read or write, and her lack of reading and writing skills made her feel embarrassed. She didn't want to show her ignorance in front of the child, after all.
However, later on, Joy decided that she was going to learn how to read so that she could finally discover the answer to her question. She started spending her free time reading freely available writing on the internet using her mobile phone and even read signs and billboards on her way to and from work, asking her younger siblings for help with words she didn't understand and practicing writing on scrap paper.
Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. But even after weeks of reading and practicing, Joy still struggled to read fluently. One day, she saw the young girl in the same spot, reading the same book as before. Joy mustered up all her courage and greeted her with a warm smile.
"Hi there," Joy said, careful not to step on the other books lying around which belonged to the girl and her grandmother. "What are you reading?"
The girl looked up at Joy and smiled shyly.
"It's a book about a girl who becomes a doctor and helps people," the girl said, pointing to the cover of the book. "It's my favorite book, and I read it over and over again."
Joy was fascinated by the girl's love for reading, and she couldn't help but feel disappointed. She wished she had the same passion for reading and the same access to books. She wanted to know more about the book, but she didn't want to seem ignorant, so she simply smiled and nodded.
"That sounds like a great book," Joy said. "I'm glad you enjoy it so much."
The girl looked back down at her book, and Joy lingered for a moment, unsure of what to say next. She knew she had to go home soon to her parents and younger siblings, but she didn't want to leave the girl's side and her books yet.
"I'm Joy, by the way," she said, extending her hand. "What's your name?"
The girl looked up again and shook Joy's hand. "I'm Maricel," she said, her eyes lighting up with delight. "It's nice to meet you, Joy."
For the next few weeks, Joy made a point to stop by Maricel's spot on the street every day after work. She would bring Maricel small gifts, like pencils and notebooks, and the two of them would talk about books and life. Joy learned so much from Maricel, and she was grateful for the friendship that had blossomed between them.
Eventually, Joy's father noticed that Joy had been spending more time reading and practicing her newly acquired reading skills lately. He decided to talk to her about it.
"Joy, can I talk to you for a minute?" her father asked.
"Sure, Papa. What's going on?" Joy responded, looking up from her book.
"I've noticed that you've been spending a lot of time reading and practicing your reading lately. While I think it's great that you're so dedicated to learning, I'm a little concerned that it's taking away from your time with the family. Your siblings have been complaining that you're not helping them with their homework or playing with them anymore, and your mother and I have noticed that you've been more distant lately. Is everything okay?" her father asked.
Joy sighed, "I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't realize that I was neglecting my responsibilities at home. I've just been really excited about learning to read and it's been taking up a lot of my time. But I understand now that I need to find a balance between my personal pursuits and my responsibilities at home."
"I'm glad you understand, Joy. Your dedication to your job and your new hobby are impressive, and I think it's great that you want to learn more. But remember, family always comes first. Perhaps you can find a way to incorporate your newfound passion for reading into helping your siblings with their schoolwork or finding other ways to spend time with them," her father suggested.
Joy nodded, "You're right, Papa. I'll make more of an effort to balance my time and responsibilities. And who knows, maybe my siblings will even start to love learning too!"
Joy's father smiled, "I think that's a great attitude, Joy. We all support your pursuit of knowledge and want to see you succeed, but we also want to make sure you're not neglecting your family in the process."
One day, Joy visited Maricel again to chat together and when she was about to leave, Maricel stopped her and handed her the book she had been reading.
"Here, Joy," she said. "I want you to have this book. Maybe it will inspire you, too."
Joy was touched by the gesture and accepted the book with a grateful smile. She promised Maricel that she would read it and take good care of it.
From that day on, Joy made reading a part of her daily routine even more. She continued to read books and articles online, borrowed books from her friends and family, and even asked her younger siblings to read to her when she struggled with certain words. She was determined to become a better reader and to learn as much as she could.
Years went by, and Joy never forgot about Maricel and the impact she had on her life. She continued to read and learn, and eventually, she went back to school to earn her high school diploma. She then pursued a degree in education and became a teacher, determined to help other children like Maricel and her siblings discover the joy of reading.
In the end, Joy's determination and love for reading had not only changed her life but also the lives of countless others. And it all started with a chance encounter with a little girl on the street who loved books just as much as she did.
Note: Joy's Treasures is a short story written by Khadijah (Jaja) M. Masorong.
Golden Junk
Note: A traditional Filipino breakfast of coffee, rice with chicken, and sandwiches is shown in the photo.
“On good days, my siblings and I would share a breakfast of plain rice mixed with spoonfuls of soy sauce and cooking oil with dried fish and eggs.”, Marielle shares with her classmate Joy on ordinary afternoons.
Marielle would spend her free time praying to God or collecting and selling old newspapers, plastic bottles, and other scrap materials at the local junk shop. She would walk around the neighborhood with her worn and tattered slippers, the only footwear she owned, carrying a heavy bag filled with recyclable items. Marielle never once complained for she knew that every coin and paper bill she earned would go towards her school expenses and buying a simple and nutritious meal for her and her younger siblings. Marielle is a good student who is always eager to learn. She listens attentively in class and spends hours studying in the evenings by the dim light of a kerosene lamp. She took notes on her old yellow pad paper and other school materials and asked questions whenever she didn’t understand something. Marielle and her siblings see other children savor the luxuries of riding a tricycle or even a car to school and never once complained. For Marielle and her family, education was more than just a means of acquiring knowledge; it was a ticket to a better life. She and her siblings walk kilometers, rain or shine, to arrive at school.
Marielle’s parents had always reminded her of the importance of education, even though they were not educated. They knew that education was the key to a better life, and they wanted their children to have the opportunities that they never had. She and her siblings were always appreciative and grateful for their families. Marielle’s father had been partially disabled because of his poor eyesight, but he persisted in working at the rice fields to provide meager sustenance for his family. Marielle’s mother was a sales assistant at a small store, and she had kept the same uniform for a decade already.
Marielle’s ultimate dream was not just to achieve success for herself, but to be a role model for her younger siblings and other young people who came from humble beginnings. Marielle dreams of working in a fast food restaurant, and she is not just about making money, but about providing a valuable service to people. She believes that by working in a fast-food restaurant, she can make a difference in people’s lives by providing them with good food and excellent customer service. She also dreams of owning her restaurant someday.
Marielle always remembers the valuable lessons that her parents had taught her. She knew that their guidance and good example were instrumental in her success, and she was determined to follow in their footsteps by being humble and treating everyone with kindness and respect. She also remained close to her parents, who always loved her and sacrificed so much for her throughout her journey.
One day, Marielle’s younger sister, Ella, walked into the house with a dejected look on her face. She tossed her backpack aside and slumped into a chair at the kitchen table.
Marielle noticed her sister’s unhappiness and asked, “What’s wrong, Ella? Why aren’t you eating your lunch?”
Ella hesitated for a moment before finally opening up to her older sister. “My classmates were making fun of me today at school. They laughed at my old clothes and old school bag. They made me feel so embarrassed.”
Marielle immediately empathized with her sister’s plight. “I’m sorry to hear that, Ella. But you know what? You shouldn’t be ashamed of who you are or where you come from. You should be proud of yourself and your family.”
Ella looked up at Marielle, confused. “But how can I be proud when they’re making fun of me?”
Marielle leaned in closer and spoke in a gentle voice. “You can be proud because you know that our family may not have a lot of money or material possessions, but we have something much more valuable — the strength to work hard and the courage to pursue our dreams. That’s something that your classmates may not have. And if you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”
Ella slowly started to smile. “You’re right, Ate Marielle. I shouldn’t let them bring me down. I’ll show them that I’m confident and strong.”
Marielle grinned. “That’s the spirit, Ella. Remember, the key to success is not just hard work, but also having the confidence to believe in yourself and your abilities. You can do anything you set your mind to.”
Ella finished her lunch with a newfound sense of determination, and Marielle knew that she had once again helped guide her younger sister toward achieving her dreams.
Years went by, and Marielle graduated from the university with flying colors, and she was elated when she finally received her diploma. She applied to various fast-food chains and was eventually hired as an entry-level employee in the industry. Over the years, Marielle had proven herself to be a valuable asset to the fast food chain and was recommended for higher-paying work. As a branch manager, she continued to guide her younger siblings, offering them support and encouragement in their paths in life. Over the years, Marielle finally achieved her dream of becoming a restaurant owner. She took everything she learned from working in the fast food industry and applied it to her own business. With the support of her family, friends, and community, Marielle’s restaurant gradually became a success.
The lessons from Marielle’s story are clear. If you pray, work hard, become patient, stay focused, and remain dedicated to your goals, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Success is not something that comes on a silver platter or something that comes easily or quickly, but it is attainable if you are willing to put in the effort and make sacrifices along the way, no matter how long it may take.
In addition, Marielle’s story reminds us of the importance of family, community, and humility. No one can achieve success alone. We all need the support and guidance of others along the way. And no matter how successful we become, we must always remain humble and grateful for the opportunities we have been given.
Note: Golden Junk is a short story written by Khadijah (Jaja) M. Masorong.
@khadijahmasorong