Whenever something terrible happens in the world, like natural disasters or mass shootings, my heart hurts. It hurts because I feel helpless; I feel like there is nothing I can do to help the innocent humans who are affected. When I heard about the earthquake in Ecuador, there was a burden on my heart that could not be contained.

For those that don’t know, the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 and hit Ecuador on April 16. The death toll, sadly, is at least 570. More than 150 people are counted as missing, and there are over 7,000 people injured. There have been 23 earthquakes since then, affecting Ecuador and relief efforts. This has been the deadliest earthquake to hit Ecuador since 1987.

So what can we do as broke college students to help third world countries in need?

Unicef, Care, and the Ecuadorian Red Cross are just a few that you can donate to help. Most of them start with a donation of $50, but don’t worry, you’re able to enter an amount that works for you. I’m sure all of us have a couple dollars to spare to be able to give money to relief efforts for Ecuador.

One of the common misconceptions of our generation is that people don’t see us as generous or caring about what is going on in the world. By donating or finding ways to help the relief, you are defying that standard that people have put upon us.

Don’t stand around and watch what is going on in the world. Go out and help. Just by donating you are helping so many people. There are over 25,000 people in shelters in Ecuador. They are lost, homeless, scared.

We have the power to do good for the world. Don’t wait around for someone else to save it, do it yourself.