Mischa's 30th Birthday Fundraiser

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On the 22nd of October I'll be turning 30 which to a lot of people is a milestone and time of crisis. I think it's a small amount of both for me. It's not nothing. In 1996 in Australia there were around 7 deaths of children under five years per 1000 births. That could have been me. But had I been born in Somalia in 1996 I could well have been one of the 173 deaths of under 5 year olds per 1000.¹

Through chance, I was born into the circumstances that I was and others were not. So to both celebrate this gift that I have been given of being alive and to do a small bit against the unfairness of the world, I've set up this fundraiser. As a way of making it still about me I've picked charities which are important to me. If we can raise money for these causes I will feel like we have achieved something - donating to these causes is helping me!

Against Malaria Foundation²: Malaria kills around 600,000 people each year, the majority of whom are children under 5. That's someone almost every minute. All of these deaths are preventable. One of the simplest ways to reduce the spread of malaria is with mosquito nets. The Against Malaria Foundation purchases and distributes nets directly to places that need them.

Animal Welfare Fund³: This one is a bit different, since it is a fund dedicated to funding animal welfare charities, based on where there is the greatest need and potential impact per dollar spent. Every year, tens of billions of land animals and trillions of aquatic animals and invertebrates (just consider that number for a second. There are around 8 billion humans currently alive) endure extreme suffering on factory farms — yet animal welfare receives only a tiny fraction of philanthropic funding. The gap between the scale of the problem and the resources dedicated to solving it is enormous. This issue is not only underfunded - it is underlooked and that is why I'm including it.

Since 2017 I have given 10% of my total income to charity, mostly the Against Malaria Foundation, something I rarely mention in my daily life. But it's important to me. And so is bringing awareness to these issues. Even with a salary of less than average in Austria, I am in the top 5% richest people in the world. If people like me can't donate, who will?

That said, everyone has different circumstances and I fully acknowledge that not everyone is able to donate. In that case I ask two things. One, consider checking out this website, Giving What We Can, which is dedicated to bringing awareness to charitable giving. And secondly, consider sharing this fundraiser.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to celebrating with you. Cheers, Mischa

¹ data.unicef.org/country/som ² againstmalaria.com ³ funds.effectivealtruism.org/funds/animal-welfare

TL;DR I'm turning 30 which is crazy. To celebrate this I'm asking for donations to charities that I care about. Consider donating, but if that's not possible, I would consider it a favour it you would check out the Giving What We Can website and/or sharing the fundraiser. Cheers, Mischa.