Testimonials From Advocates Who Have Done 25 in Change
“What I think makes 25 in Change so different is that it’s not about charity, it is a social justice movement. Why it is so radical and why I would recommend it to anyone else is because the model itself is so radical: It really forces you to think about how you live, the choices that you make, and the impact those have on a global scale. It’s not just asking people for money, but rather asking people to be invested in the choices that they make… 25 in Change is a radical exercise in empathy!”
Sarah Hidey“I think a lot of times what we want to do is just jump right in and fix the problem (and we don’t understand it). This particular type of advocacy helps develop empathy. When you’re hungry and you don’t know where your food is going to come from, it helps you to understand—on a very small scale!—what hungry people go through every day. I would recommend this to people who are passionate about hunger and see how they are stronger than they think they are.”
Libby Wachter“It takes a lot of initiative to do this and requires a lot of conversations with people–so for me it was an outward process that was difficult, but also very enjoyable to do. I would recommend this to others if it’s something you’re passionate about; it’s definitely an avenue to make great change!”
Shari Slaughter“25 in Change is about action rather than talking. It is about putting yourself on a different level by serving others by being in solidarity with them. A lot of the time we like to separate ourselves from problems in the world, and this program puts you right into the messiness and the hardship of it. Overall, it was a wonderful and transformative experience for me.”
Claire Rader“I would describe this as something that will push you to your limits, not just physically with the rice and beans, but also emotionally and spiritually as you begin to internalize it. The small action of us eating rice and beans, and the small action of our Partners giving up fast food and instead giving $25, has resulted in a really monumental achievement.”
Lindsey Meyers“25 in Change was a challenge, some days were easier than others, some days were harder, but every day you’re a lot more aware of the fact that you’re fighting this battle with other people and the community aspect makes a big difference….At the same time, it was really rewarding knowing that you’re also providing meals for hungry children– not just meals, but also opportunities for education; opportunities for girls in these countries, and that you’re working toward something that’s really making a difference in a sustainable way….I would recommend 25 in Change if you’re looking to be a voice for people who don’t have the ability to speak up and fight for themselves.”
Liz Bureman“I would definitely recommend this to others, because of what we learned about ourselves, about God, and about God’s provision for us. That there is more out there than just ourselves…..There is no way to gain this type of empathy without going through this. Even though I had a fridge full of food (I could have opened it at any time), I still felt that anxiousness from food insecurity (am I going to eat the next day?). In hindsight, I was building memories that will stay with me forever and change how I act, and hopefully allow me to have more empathy for other people and more compassion for helping others in need.”
Marsha DeMaria“The most interesting part of 25 in Change for me has been learning how to become an Advocate for the marginalized. There is a wild paradox in play when you speak up for the forgotten and oppressed, but you also realize you have to get out of God’s way to do it. I’ve learned that advocacy is not taking on the sole responsibility and weight of caring about others; as if somehow I don’t do this, it won’t get done. Instead, it is a lifestyle of recognizing that Jesus is already advocating for the forgotten and oppressed by being among them, and that we are called to join him in those relationships. 25 in Change has produced a fundamental shift in my lifestyle from being a social activist (caring about causes) to becoming an advocate for people.”
Andre Roux“25 in Change is hard. It is definitely a challenge, but for anyone looking for their world to be rocked, or anyone who wants a new outlook on life, I definitely recommend it. But don’t go into this thinking that it is going to be a piece of cake, or nothing will change, because there isn’t one thing that hasn’t changed about my life. It’s definitely a life changer.”
Logan Taylor“This type of advocacy, is not just about throwing money at a solution—because as we’ve seen; that just doesn’t work. This is something that asks for real change. Real change on either side of the spectrum. It’s a way of saying that we need to look at part A and part B in order to find a solution to the equation.”
Caitlyn Moses“I went into this thinking I was making a big sacrifice eating just rice and beans, but not realizing that ultimately each time I ate, it represented such a huge gift for children in the world—who are like my own children (the same ages). I realized that it was truly a privilege to put myself out there; to be embarrassed, to feel ashamed at times to having to respond to misinformation. It was still a privilege to do something that was so simple, yet so challenging, that had such great rewards to it.”
Jamie Osborne“25 in Change was a huge learning experience. It taught me about myself, the people and world around me….It was rough, it was real, it was life changing. There is a difference in what you know in life and what you understand. I’m not saying going through this allows you to understand what hungry children are going through, but it teaches you a lot more about the situation than if you just statistically knew what was going on.”
Sarah Caulkins“I would greatly encourage people to advocate with 25 in Change. It moves you from just knowing facts, and knowing about the problems in the world, to actually joining people who face those problems, and aligning yourself with them. It’s a way to really bring change, and to say that it’s not enough just to give money but you have to be the change yourself.”
Jenni Mead