Helping Our World Through Apps

[by Katherine H]

Our world is rapidly advancing towards a greater future. We may have robots operating on us in the future. We may have flying cars: who knows? Right now, our technology is advancing at such a high rate that it is impossible for us to estimate what we may achieve twenty years from now.

Apple products, pioneered by Steve Jobs, certainly stands for some of the greatest innovations of our time. According to the CNBC’s All-America Economic survey, more than fifty-five million U.S homes own an Apple product— and that’s just for America; imagine the number of Apple users if the rest of the world was included! This just shows how much of an effect technology has on us these days, but of course, like most things, technology has its detriments.

Some people like to spend their time on social media, browsing through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. whilst others like to spend time on their phone taking that perfect #OnPointSelfie and adding all the possible filters ever created. There are better ways to use your smartphone: I know it, and you know it too. We could help our world through technology— for children in need of school supplies, for animals without shelter, or for patients who are in need of blood transfusions. Since people are mostly on their phones nowadays, charity organizations have made apps wherein people who are more fortunate can make a change.

When I first got my iPhone 6 as a birthday present, I was scrolling through endless lists of fitness apps to download since one of my goals this year is to become more fit. That is when I came upon an app called “Charity Miles.” I wanted to see how the app worked because its description intrigued me. Charity Miles is an app that helps people in need through sponsorship. If you are going for a walk, a run, or a bike ride around the neighbourhood, you just have to turn this app on, select an organization you would like to be sponsored by, and then start moving. The longer you exercise, the more money you will be allowing your sponsor to donate. Even though the money donated is not a huge amount, in the long run it’s all worth it because you are bettering yourself physically and helping the world at the same time. This app started my journey to help the world bit by bit through apps. The world of technology is filled with charity-sponsored apps that are waiting for your contribution to the world.

Apps such as CharityBox, GiveEasy and Give a Heart are great for anyone who has a stable income and wishes to to make a contribution to the world. Once you activate it, these apps link themselves with your credit card. The convenient thing is that the user can set how frequently they wish to donate money and which organization to donate to. The app will automatically do these procedures once you have it set up, so for people who have busy lives, this is the app for them.

If you would like to actively make a contribution to the world, then the SKHP Vertical Run for Charity may be a better option. The event takes place in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and there are options of running a marathon, a corporate relay race, a youth relay race or an open relay race, with all the registration money going towards charity.

I personally like apps such as the Save the Earth earthquake response game as well as UNHCR My Life as A Refugee, because even though these apps are games, they also provide learning experiences. Through these games, you begin to understand how crucial it is for charity organizations to act fast to provide for the people who are victims of natural disasters. You understand what the life of a refugee is like, forced to run away from home because of war or persecution, and how every decision you make could mean life or death. You begin to understand the hardships of some people.

It is important to realise how lucky and fortunate we are, and not take what we have around us for granted. Millions of people in other areas are suffering from poverty and plague with no one helping them. There are thousands of ways to solve global problems, and helping the world through apps is one option.

“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.” — Nelson Mandela