IAM Group Ltd | Friends We Left Behind

Last October my mother became sick, I got scared and thought we were going to loose her, so my husband and I made a very quick decision, without any hesitations, to leave our business and home in Yokohama, Japan and move to Korea where my mom was.

Read More

IAM Group Ltd | The Art of Giving

With our changing economic times, people would always need something. The art of giving and satisfying other people’s needs may use more mastery than one can imagine. As many of us will say that we will only give when we have something more, then, we might not be able to give at all. The art of giving is not only fulfilling to the receiver. It can also be satisfying to the giver himself.

The following are the things IAM Group Limited has recognized as a factor in mastering the art of giving:

1. Give of Your Talents

In giving someone of your talents, like coaching something to your favourite sports, voice talent or some steps in dance, it may be worthwhile and be counted to your benefit. While enjoying doing the things you love, you also help others.

2. Give things.

This is the easiest way of charity and is somehow a basis in giving. In partnering to charities, your things may get to victims of floods and natural calamities to as far as Yokohama, Japan or Sumatra, Indonesia. Clean your home and clear out your closet of unwanted things. Give what you don’t use or need to charity. Your junk is someone else’s treasure.

3. Give of yourself

Make someone feel loved, special and appreciated with a visit, phone call, email, text or card. Give a handmade gift. Give praise, gratitude and appreciation. This creates heart-to-heart connections. In some cases, this may be the best gift of a parent to the children.

4. Give good advice.

Ask the question, “Do you want advice or to you want me to listen.” If needed and wanted advice can be life-saving. Shared insights and wisdom is a precious gift.

5. Give encouragement.

When people are filled with doubt and fear they lack courage. When you inspire and motivate someone to act on their dreams, it can be life changing. You are making the world a better place.

6. Give forgiveness.

Forgiveness offers healing to family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. Forgive yourself and others in spite of memories of unlovable times. Drop the story of what they did and what you did and the meaning you have given it.

7. Give money.

Giving stuff is easy. We usually don’t need or want it. But almost everyone likes to hang on to their money. Giving away money is more difficult because it means less for you. Give money because others need it. Give money because we’re dependent on one another.

8. Give An Act Of Kindness.

Kindness is the easiest and most abundant gift we have to give away. Buy Girl Scout cookies, always open the door for the person behind you, return your grocery cart, make cookies for your neighbor. The list is endless. Kindness brings joy to the giver, receiver and anyone witnessing the act!

9. Give love.

It’s easy to love those who love us back. Challenge yourself to give love to those who deserve it the least. Make your love unconditional. Make the world a more loving place. Everyone will reap the benefits!

The Art of Giving is something we can do everyday to different kinds of people. IAM Group Ltd., with our partner charity groups from around the world encourages you to give something out of yourself and feel the satisfying gratitude of it.

 

Read More

IAM Group Limited | Compassionate Mind

For decades, research has focused on the psychology of human suffering since it has been the main issue in our society. Poverty. Human Exploitation. Child Abuse. That suffering, as unpleasant as it is, often also has a bright side to which research has paid less attention: compassion. Human suffering is often accompanied by beautiful acts of compassion by others wishing to help relieve it.

Read More

IAM Group Limited | Charity vs. Justice

There are so many arguments regarding the extremities difference of charity and justice.
IAM Group Limited, with its partner charities in Seoul, South Korea, Tokyo and Yokohama Japan,
Singapore, Cambodia, Africa and to the rest of the world invites you all to join us on how society perceive the two terms and what it really weighs among us.

Read More

IAM Group Limited | Being Charitable Reduces Stress

There is this profound feeling whenever you give out your old clothes or other belongings to those people in need, or hand in some extra cash to those who are less unfortunate. The sense of euphoria or bliss from carrying out the deed of giving is indeed a universal chemical reaction function among us human beings. That is why people sometimes find this unique joy of helping other fellow beings.

IAM Group Ltd found out that according to the University at Albany’s faculty experts study, there is a significant reduction on their subjects that have voluntarily given out their possessions to those who are in dire need compared to those who did not submit to charity or forced to do one.

This is more so augmented by the fact that the seasonal holidays where materialism is abound, people tend to buy and rush for all necessities to purchase and then get a lot of stress from the carnage of consumerism.

Another research published in the Journal of Happiness and Development, has shown that you stand to gain even greater emotional benefits when you know the person you are giving to. In this series of studies, 68 men and women were shown a video advertisement for a charity in Africa and then invited to make some donations. Some in a randomly assigned group, however, were told that they had a friend who had just come back from Africa and that this money was being raised on that person’s behalf. Then the participants reported their life satisfaction. According to the study, the stress levels of these holiday rushers have been greatly reduced to a significant level when they have surrendered their old belongings or extra money to other people for charity. Some subjects claimed that they find it most enjoyable if the items were given to people they are close to or known for a long time.

The study concludes that the stress reduction from charitable giving is very significant that it affects the long term outlook of an individual to the extent that it lengthens their life expectancy.

If you’d like to make a bigger impact in a small community or even online, you can sign up for IAM Group Ltd – a charity based in Seoul, Korea but has some major charters in Yokohama Japan, North American and even Europe. Whether if it is just helping out with a clothing drive, or raising funds as a group for a shared cause, IAM Group has something for everyone in their local area. When you team up for a collective effort, you share the wealth in more ways than one and that is what makes charity giving a more healthy activity for young and old.

Read More

IAM Group Limited | When A Loud Cry Was Never Heard

Donna can kill with a smile.  She is a traveler, born in the place with a humble beginnings.  She is equipped with a strong soul, that spending time with her will be worth a while. Others would comment on her as never had a boring conversation with her.  She is a very enthusiastic girl, as the first impression of her school English teacher, Mr. Antonio.  Mr. Antonio,  who is good in unleashing the talent of an oratorical girl, finally discovered that Donna did some elementary competition back then.  She then never stopped pushing Donna to the best of her skills, giving Donna a chance to compete in the school’s Declamation Contest.

“Yes, I killed him.  I killed him because I loved him very much.”  These are the words Donna spoke during that night of the competition.

That night was a good night.  She never got the only available spot for the plaque, but she already won in her heart.  Her father, who is just near the area got surprised that Donna, her own daughter was on stage doing her own declamation number. That was the biggest Oratorical Declamation Contest in the city.

Donna is witty and yet humble, she is talkative and yet she is silent when needed.  She takes care of herself.  She was born with a golden spoon, not because of blood but with hard work her parents shown in her.  At a young age, she knew in her eyes that life is what we make of it.  We walk slow, we get there late, we walk fast without thinking, we will arrive, but no victory.  Life for her is all about learning and the ability to contain the situation with all honesty.  There were times when Donna cries.  But never she felt so low in her life because in her heart, whenever she worries, she kneels down and pray.  It was never that a single prayer was not heard. Sometimes, not all are answered in time because she believes the time molds her life to be ready for life’s surprise.

Donna came to the point when she realized how blessed she is. So happy, no sickness, a good roof,  and very comfortable life.  She realized that her life is senseless if only her blessings will go to few friends and family only.

One night, a day before her birthday, she called one of her best friend Angela to go with her on her birthday.  Angela, born from a very humble family with humble beginnings became good friend of Donna because Donna helped her by giving her more jobs and experiences that will help her in sustaining her family.  Indeed, friendship evolves as Angela is one of Donna’s trusted friends who make sure things are done on time.  Even for money, Angela can be trusted.

Morning came then Angela arrived.  Donna and Angela had a good lunch, afterwards, the count started.  They both went to a public market, finding all the good person on their way to celebrate with her birthday.

The rain slowly poured down and Donna who wears all white top and shorts, saw 3 children all wet on road, helping one another to cross the street to sell hard boiled eggs in small baskets hanging on the other hand and and some necklace fresh flowers being held by another hand.  Donna saw their mother on the corner, talking with the children while watching a big basket of hard boiled eggs.  Donna’s eyes sparkled, and with joy in her face, talked to the mother with these exact words, “Good afternoon.  It is my birthday, can I talk your children with me on this restaurant for a treat, and you can come along with us too.”

The mother with a very shocking teary look in her eyes, got surprised, and her reply shocked back Donna.  The mother said, “It is okey, I need to look into our baskets, take my children with you.”

It was indeed a great lunch, asking every one child, three of them, what food they liked to eat.  They all had good meals.  Afterwards, Donna did not stop from there.  Donna bought extra food for the mother and the other sister who is at home.  That moment, Donna heard the a sad story about the children’s father who just left them. This didn’t shake Donna’s heart.  Indeed it made her heart so strong that she promised herself that she will get back and help these kinds of children.

Donna bought the whole family slippers.  Not just simple slippers, but thick and very comfortable one, for the children to have protection when they walk.  The children’s slippers have holes already beneath each palm of their feet.

Afterwards, Donna bid goodbye and hugged every one of them.  On every corner, every person, Donna and Angela passed by had enjoyed Donna’s birthday.  The crowd caller, the garbage man, their friends in that area,  the young child who clothing color is sadness, the shoe fixer, the old woman shining shoes, the repair man, everyone she passed until it is time for her to go home.

It was indeed an experience.  Angela got so carried away, that she never expected that such experience will indeed make her closer to Donna more.

These days, every time Donna’s birthday arrives, Donna chooses to celebrate for the young  and the old whose cries were never heard by the people who has ears, but deaf in their own hearts.  Those people who are into dripping oils in their heavy pockets but with clothing made of shallow threads ready to break in no time.

Donna is a member of IAM Group Limited, she saw the website, and with her mission and vision in her life matches the goals of IAM Group Ltd Yokohama, indeed it is worth her last of her remaining days to spend not only for those who dine with her with golden spoon, but those who dine with her in paper cups and plastic spoons.

With her kind deeds, never a day that Donna is a boring woman.  She is full of real stories to tell.  Indeed, inspiring ones too.  She lives life with full of heart, and full of hope for others to dream.  She is indeed a lion that never sleeps and hands with claws that rebuild souls and hope to humanity.

Read More

IAM Group Limited | Smallest Act of Kindness

Today, as I am writing this article, I am reminded of how the smallest act of kindness can contribute to one’s life. A single smile, a genuine and heartfelt laugh, a simple pat on the back and a short praise are what keeps people going.



Yesterday, we are doing a charity work for the homeless just downtown of our city with our partner, IAM Group Ltd. One of my co-volunteers, a young lady from Yokohama, Japan who had also experienced being abused by his step-father back in their country was handing a box of home supplies to a young lady carrying a baby when another volunteer dashed between them as he was playing with some homeless children. They were playing dash when they rushed into the cue of the Japanese volunteer. The volunteer got crossed as the box of supplies tumbled into the ground and spilled its content. The baby on the young woman’s hand started to wail, the Japanese volunteer started to complain, the children started laughing and they had a little chaos in their group. I started to walk towards them when an unexpected happened that stopped me in my tracks.



The young lady with a pale face and wore tattered clothes while carrying the wailing child on her arms started to laugh. I smiled as I hear her heartfelt laughter. The baby seemed almost as surprised as I was that he also stopped crying and stared at her mother instead. The complaining volunteer and the tearful young man who spilled the content of supplies also stopped their rambling to stare at the young mother. It took them a while to start laughing as well.



That was when another volunteer, our pack leader and the representative of IAM Group Limited approached me while shaking his head. Unbelief was written all over his face.



“I never have thought that there will come a time that I would hear laughter from her.” She said, pertaining to the Japanese volunteer. Now that I think of it, I never heard her laughing as well in all the times that we have been together. She was always strict. Always complaining and always mumbling. The Japanese volunteer would just offer a nod or tight conversation but she was never one to smile, much more laughing.



My co-volunteer continued, “After she have been freed from her experience with her step-father, she remained to be aloof to all of us. What do you know? Now, she is someone who can laugh at silly things thanks to that young mother over there.”



I looked at them with a smile to my face and I write today still with that smile. From the simple act of kindness from a homeless young mother even while her box of supplies where scattered in front of her, she had caused the joy suppressing in one’s life out.

Read More

IAM Group Limited | Video Gaming for a Good Cause

Video gamers often get a bad reputation. They are accused of wasting their time and not doing anything worth their while. Some studies show they have violent tendencies, and if you ever log onto Xbox Live, one of them will probably call you an unsavory name within the first few minutes. The guys behind the popular gaming website Penny Arcade felt like something had to be done to refute this bad reputation. So, in 2003, they created Child’s Play, an organization that donates money, books, DVDs, and, of course, video games, to children’s hospitals around the world. This organization has good ties among young members of IAM Group Ltd especially in communities in Japan, particularly Yokohama.

Read More