On this Queer Money, we talk with philanthropist, Steve Bolinger, about how he created Development in Gardening (DIG), which is helping to fight AIDS in Africa. To learn how Steve traveled the world for nine months and then created such an impactful organization, listen to or watch this Queer Money.
From Asia to Africa
Steve illustrates how he experienced a mental shift during his world travels that drew him to his higher purpose. When he saw how the majority of the world lives, he was changed forever and said he could never go back to "working for a stock price".
For anyone considering similar paths, Steve shares how he planned for and saved for his 9-month world trip on a bartender's wage. He shares why he spent most of his time in Asia and what he experienced on his journey.
DIG Africa
Upon Steve's return from Asia, he started to look for jobs in international development. He shares how this led him to the Peace Corp as an urban agriculturalist in Dakar where he unintentionally started his fight against AIDS in Africa.
Steve built a garden for a hospital in Dakar and that inspired DIG. Most hospitals in Africa can't provide patients food and, therefore, patients are dependent on family for food. With the stigma of AIDS in Africa, AIDS patients often don't get the food, especially nutrient-dense food, they need.
While serving in the Peace Corp in Africa, Steven noticed that while there are many projects throughout Africa to build gardens, none focused on building gardens to feed AIDS patients in the hospital. DIG doesn't just build gardens for AIDS patients, but teaches AIDS patients how to build, maintain and profit from their gardens. This has created an economy that's helped turn those who were once shunned by their communities into community leaders.
AIDS in Africa Meets DIG
Steve says, "I felt that if I left the Peace Corp to return to the states and get a job, I'd be doing humanity a disservice." While DIG didn't come to Steve as an "ah ha" moment, when it did come to him over the course of a few days it was the first time he ever felt so at peace with a decision.
Steve shares the process for establishing his international non-profit. Steve say that "DIG would not exist without the [queer] community" because it was the queer community that initially and has since consistently funded DIG's endeavors.
Steve shares that while creating DIG was hard, it wasn't as hard as he expected. Steve says, "That's the beauty of it. When you start doing what you're supposed to do it kinda just falls into place."
How You Can Help DIG
To learn more about and help DIG with your time or money, please visit DIG here.
