Zašto nisam htela da budem milionerka
When Lydia Nash appeared on the TV programme Who wants to be a millionaire ? and was fortunate enough to win £16,000, she decided to give all the money away. This wouldn’t have been surprising if she had been rich or famous, but Lydia is a 19-year-old student.
Lydia decided to donate the entire amount to an organization supporting orphaned children in Thailand, where she had also served as a volunteer throughout the previous three years. 'I initially went to the orphanage at age seventeen and found the experience quite upsetting. Upon returning to England I grew frustrated—everywhere I looked, I witnessed people fixated on wealth. That motivated me to return to Thailand the next year.'
When Lydia received the winnings, certain acquaintances felt she might have chosen incorrectly. 'Several individuals suggested I ought to have set it aside for a house purchase or to settle my university debt,' Lydia explained. 'I found that quite upsetting. University students appear to inhabit a detached reality, perpetually expressing complaints about financial difficulties. However, there's a significant gap between our circumstances and those of individuals who possess virtually nothing.'
Thanks to the funds provided by Lydia, the organization has recently completed construction of 'Rainbow House,' a modern residential facility that will accommodate 50 young children, where they will remain until they are adopted.
If Lydia had won a million pounds and not only £16,000, would she still have given away all the money? She said, ‘Before going on the show I thought a lot about what it would be like to have a lot of money and I realised I wouldn’t like it at all. And then, of course, as I had been to the orphanage and had seen all the work that needed to be done, I knew how useful that money could be. It was far more important for the charity than it could ever be for me. I definitely think I got more enjoyment out of giving the money away than if I had kept it for myself.
Preuzeto iz New English File Intermediate, Student's Book
