The who is me, Seth Cochran, an American currently living in Berlin, Germany. Why Berlin? Besides being one of the most exciting cities in the world, Berlin is the latest stop on a multiyear odyssey started in Georgetown, Texas.

You see, I left central Texas to pursue an engineering degree at Cornell University and the exposure to such a different culture and so many new things awakened a bit of an addiction in me. Seeing the world became my primary objective and I fully embraced the rolling stone lifestyle, taking up residences in New Hampshire, then Colorado, Scotland, and finally (to now) Berlin.

I have been fortunate in that my career choices have allowed me to experience many new cultures and to see exotic and interesting parts of the world. When I am not traveling for work, I am traveling for fun, visiting wineries, riding my bike, going to concerts, cooking, or discussing global politics.

Why am I doing this?

Last October, I was trekking through the Doi Inthanon national park in Thailand, staying in various Karen villages. One night, we cooked some fried noodles for the kids of the village. Now this meal cost maybe $10, but the impact that it had on these 50 or so kids really made an impression on me. It clearly showed me how small dollars to me could have dramatic impacts on people born to less fortunate circumstance.

I am well aware of the social impact a disability can have on a child. I suffered from Legg-Calves-Perthes, a rare hip disease, as a young kid and had to wear leg braces for two years. Luckily, I was born in a rich country where treatment was unquestionably available and I eventually recovered to live an active life. The children born with cleft palates in the developing world do not necessarily have access to corrective surgery. Besides the social ostracism brought on by this highly visible birth defect, these children can even have trouble speaking, breathing, and eating.

So when I see a well run charity like the The Smile Train focused on providing disadvantaged children a chance at a normal life, I feel compelled to act. Especially when I consider the power of a contribution: $250 buys a kid a chance at life. Think of the power of such a relatively small donation…

Insight? Ideas? Questions? Please contact me, I love to talk.

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