Generally speaking, I don’t dwell too much on feelings of regret, sorrow and contrition. However, like everyone else, there are certain things I cannot set aside or file away and move on with my life; I wish I could. They tend to be situations I could have done something about, if only I had the foresight or wisdom to anticipate a negative outcome but failed to do so.
Here is one that brings me to a state of deep regret whenever I think about it.
I woke up early on New Year’s Day 2012 and had a rare moment of epiphany. 2012 being a ‘Leap Year’ meant an extra day in Our lives. Wouldn’t be amazing if we were to volunteer this bonus day for a deserving and worthy cause? That simple proposition snowballed into the creation of ‘The Leap Day Foundation’ charitable trust based in Cyprus which was officially launched on 29 February 2012 at the Londa Hotel in Limassol. Over the next six years, we raised many thousands of euros which went on to benefit many charitable organisations, poor families, and individuals throughout the Island of Cyprus.
2018 was a particularly bad year for me personally and I was distracted from the foundation. Had it not been for the incredible efforts of a friend of mine and work colleague Anna, who was the most passionate and committed volunteer of the Trust, the whole thing might have ceased to exist. In early 2019, I left Cyprus for good, leaving the foundation in the hands of the trustees and Anna.
Anna left her job at the company we both worked for but before she did, I was approached by the company asking if they could use the foundation as means to focus the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. I was surprised to be asked and assumed it was a courtesy request since there were four other trustees who could determine what happens to the trust and the money that remained in its account.
Unfortunately, many companies use CSR for cynical purposes to attract positive publicity and give the false impression they are driven, at least partly, by high principles and honourable values. My ex-employer proved to be no different in this regard. It is not much different from some countries who indulge in cultural appropriation of minority and disadvantaged groups amongst them in order to gain financially or reputationally, while claiming that their actions are to preserve this heritage.
So, ten years on, who is to blame for the demise of the Leap Day Foundation? If it is not obvious to you yet, then let me help you. I AM TO BLAME. I could have done a number of things to protect and safeguard the integrity of the foundation, not least of which is to retain the rights of the name and insist on certain conditions for others to make use of the trust.
I just feel regretful and wretched for what happened to the trust and will always rue my negligence of it in my final year in Cyprus.
Mea Maxima Culpa…
Happy 2022 to you all and my apologies for the ‘not so cheerful’ blog on the last day of 2021. More pleasant blogs will appear next year, I promise.
Mufid
