Esther* was certain she wanted to be an investment banker from the age of nine.
She would tag along with her share trading father to stock exchange halls in Hong Kong before school every day.
When Esther questioned what the “professional-looking” people were doing running around inside buildings, her father tended to dismiss her, explaining she’d find the activities too hard to comprehend.
“I think he underestimated my curiosity and my understanding.”
Little did he know that Esther was quietly soaking up her surroundings and tooling up for a future in corporate finance.
As she would enter the early stages of her career years later, innocence was one part of her childhood that she carried with her.
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Taste of independence and foray into the corporate world
Esther migrated to Australia at 14 and moved in with her aunt and grandmother.
She immediately felt the independence of living without her parents and was financially liberated from working in various part-time jobs while completing her high school years.
“I don’t ever remember spending their [my parent’s] money except for tuition.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in commerce, she worked in investment banking for nine years.
Esther admits she felt she wasn’t successful in the role because it conflicted with her personal values.
“I saw my colleagues lie.
“Your income, your bonus depends on your trading amount and for the same stock I’d hear someone say ‘buy’ and the other say ‘sell’. So who is lying?”
These moments got Esther thinking about her own ethics but also the perks attached to her role.
“As a new graduate, you’d spend like there’s no tomorrow. You’ll travel several times a year internationally in business class.”
Esther visiting her sponsored child's classroom. Source: 受訪者
The turning point
While juggling long work hours, Esther attended a well-known Christian conference in Sydney where gatherers were shown a six-minute video clip about the livelihood of an impoverished child from a developing nation.
Esther says the clip was a lightbulb moment for her.
The organisation told us that you didn't need to change the whole world. You could just change the world for one person.
“I thought it was very doable.”
Esther says others at the conference were moved by the clip and immediately took action to sponsor a child.
“While lining up … I was thinking about the sacrifices I would have to make to my 'better' lifestyle.”
Esther decided that she could do without another pair of shoes, another good meal or another dress.
“It was quite tempting at the time not to sponsor the child.”
Thirteen sponsored children later
The now 41-year-old quit her corporate job in 2014 after having made a promise to herself to sponsor another child with every pay rise.
She is currently sponsoring 13 children.
The video clip also prompted Esther to develop an exit plan out of banking.
Esther has met eight of her 13 sponsored children. Source: 受訪者
“In 2008, I knew I wouldn’t be in this industry for long.”
Her next job working as a development manager for a charity came with a huge pay cut.
“It was so shocking.
“When I got my contract, I called my best friend and told her that it was what I got when I was 15.”
Getting to know each sponsored child
Esther has visited the majority of the children she sponsors in their home countries, including Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Burkina Faso, the Philippines and Thailand.
“I write to them so I really wanted to meet them.”
She says meeting her first sponsored child was nerve-racking.
You get to see the real person... You get to meet the parents. You get to see how they benefit from the sponsorship program as a family, not only the child.
“When I know I can’t change the world but I can certainly help change one life, I feel very empowered.
“That’s what motivates me to sponsor more children.”
Esther has paid off her sponsorship fees for each of her children up until they hit 21.
Their photos sit proudly on her bookshelf in her Sydney home.
Esther says sponsoring children also benefits their families. Source: 受訪者
Having a positive impact on the lives of others
This year Esther decided to study counselling after seeing many of her friends struggle mentally throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I saw the need to study counselling so that I could be useful [to people] in my friendship circle.”
Although it means she no longer does paid work, Esther and her husband have plans to one day relocate to support a charity overseas.
She points out the benefits of having more direct contact with children and families in need.
“I’ve seen sponsorship recipients grow up and give back to society, and even return to charities for work or act as volunteers.”
*Not her real name
