One event that took the internet by storm a little more than a year ago was the “Ice Bucket Challenge.” People dumped ice water over their heads, preferably on camera, and in the process raised more than 100-million dollars for the fight against ALS. You might be less familiar with the “Rice Bucket challenge”—which started in India. As part of our series this week “Following Up,” HPR’s Bill Dorman revisits the Rice Bucket Challenge in today’s Asia Minute.
In August 2014, the “Ice Bucket Challenge” was YouTube gold - and an impressive fund-raising mechanism in the fight against ALS—Lou Gehrig’s disease. Video snippets of people dumping buckets of ice water over their heads were viewed by people around the world.
That included Manju Kalanidhi---a journalist in Hyderabad, India. She was immediately struck by two thoughts. First, because clean water is so scarce in so much of India, it would be wasteful to the point of unconscionable to encourage people there to dump buckets of water over their heads. And secondly, what if people turned the water into food—and donated to those who needed it?
That started the “Rice Bucket Challenge”---which continues to this very day—and not only in India. It’s spread to Sri Lanka…Nepal…the Philippines…Turkey and elsewhere. Rice Bucket Challenge still raises money…donates food…and maintains a Facebook page.
As for Manju Kalanidhi, she posted her own video recently—talking about how individuals can help make a positive difference in the world with small contributions...and not just with money. She defines charity as “a small, random act of kindness.” And so far, the Rice Bucket challenge has brought more than 100 tons of rice to people who can really use it.
