charity begins at home?

[Harvez]

Over the last few weeks ive seen many organisations running various charity runs/events for various causes and needs.

what got me thinking was, should we be sending millions of pounds to other countries when our own county has people living on the streets child abuse systems which are desparate for more money to fund them etc.
Ever since I can remember africa has had problems and over the last 25 years at least I can remeber wtf has that money gone and why are they still in the same dilema they were 25 years ago ? to me its obvious the money has not been distributed to the right people/groups/charitys so why bother sending more?

Charity Home or Away ?

[claire80]

if and when i donate to charities i prefer to donate to local places , i agree that we should sort our own country out 1st , but then that leaves the question who then helps those kids in africa etc , as if we all helped our own countries other countries could effectively die out ....

[Jon]

There are so many different charities operating in different areas both home and abroad.

There are also many ways to give to charity, not just by raising money, doing sponsored events etc but volunteering in one of their shops or doing some community work - even if its just helping a elderly neighbour mow their lawn.

In some countries which have received funding and charity work there is loads of corruption, and power greedy people trying to stay in control of their land, at what ever cost it takes to their people. Equally after the 2004 tsunami, all the main international development/poverty charities grouped together to help rebuild the region, 4 years on and there is still a long way to go but progress has been made.

I think that which charity to support is purely a personal one, based on your experiences over life. Me personally I donate to a homeless charity that helped out a friend of mine, some UK based medical charities and if there is a big natural disaster I will also donate to that. I also give old clothes and books to various charity shops.

[Harvez]

I think there should be someone like world aid, who take donations from each countries leaders/goverments who make sure any monies given are put directly in the pockets of the charitys. but that leaves them to decide who needs the money more and would it be used effectively?

I never/have given to charitys outside of the uk I have 4 direct debits which leave my bank 2 cancer related and 2 children related, both if helped in my opinion help this country out in the long run as the children are our future and will cancer being beaten with new finds every year its one less thing to lose a child/family member to.

[fosking]

I completely agree.
I believe a country needs to help itself before sending money to other countries. I have absolutely no problem with giving to a charity that helps out third world countries, but, the billions of pounds we have sent abroad over the last 25 years could have helped to solve many problems here in the UK. I do believe there needs to be more emphasis on UK charities. Once we have solved a few more problems at home, then I think we can look at helping other countries.
It's funny as soon as another country needs financial help, super UK is there to save the day. In reality, the UK could still do with more help to reduce problems such as homelessness etc.

[fosking]

Originally Posted by harvez

I think there should be someone like world aid, who take donations from each countries leaders/goverments who make sure any monies given are put directly in the pockets of the charitys. but that leaves them to decide who needs the money more and would it be used effectively?

I think it could be an interesting concept but those donations would come from the taxpayer. At times like this, where the government is cutting back on spending on services. I would not be too happy with them sending money abroad when it is becoming desperately needed right here.

[Harvez]

Originally Posted by fosking

I think it could be an interesting concept but those donations would come from the taxpayer. At times like this, where the government is cutting back on spending on services. I would not be too happy with them sending money abroad when it is becoming desperately needed right here.

True, but what I was getting at is there has to be a central body who can make sure any money thats needed gets to the right people.
how they get the money from each country which is able to donate is another thing.

As Jon said too many countries have corrput people sitting at the top who would not think twice about spending thousands on guns and feathering their own nests.

It's not that I dont care about the poor and needy in other countries it's the knowing after all the years of being helped some of them countries are no better now than they were many years ago, and with millions of pounds wasted it gripes me to see so much go to waste.

[Jon]

The problem is, even organisations like the UNICEF UK - Homepage have had their medical supplied which they distribute for free ended up being sold in markets in the countries that they work in, I don't think any charity has never had any corruption issues.

[kevan321]

I can see where you're coming from, and I think there should be a balance.

But the thing is, no matter how bad things are here, they will still be much worse elsewhere.

As jon said, life experience totally effects those opinions but to me I think protection of children, and cancer care etc within our own country should be the priority, but then I think places like africa really do need it before our animals etc.

When it comes to the need for freshwater, I think that is such an important cause and for me I really struggle to decide who to give to. Cancer research and stuff is one I'd always want to, but without even freshwater these people don't stand a chance.


Oh, and when did we get a debating forum?

[Sachmo_51_6]

Originally Posted by harvez

Ever since I can remember africa has had problems and over the last 25 years at least I can remeber wtf has that money gone and why are they still in the same dilema they were 25 years ago ? to me its obvious the money has not been distributed to the right people/groups/charitys so why bother sending more?

Charity Home or Away ?

A lot of Africa's problems are a direct result of British (and Dutch, and French, and others as well) imperialism. When we 'claimed' these countries, we put into place a lot of rules and reforms that were not in the best interests of the people actually living there. Since the main purpose of these colonies was to produce as much raw material for Britain as possible, there was little concern for the welfare and overall development of these countries. When they gained independence, this also lead to problems with their system of government, and many countries have experienced civil war at some point in the last 50 years. Surely then, we have a duty of care to these countries since we are, at least partially, responsible for their suffering.

Secondly, and this is probably a somewhat moot point, the suffering experienced in this country (homelessness, cancer etc.) is as nothing to the suffering experienced in African countries, both in terms of scale and of ferocity. At least everyone in the UK has access to clean water and free medical care. No one in the UK has (to my knowledge) recently died of cholera, diphtheria or typhoid.

Thirdly, it depends on what type of aid is offered by overseas charities. Many charities send relief parcels containing food, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, but the problem with these is that, once the food has been eaten, more food needs to be sent, and people can become dependent on this type of aid, meaning money must be constantly spent on acquiring and transporting this food to them.

A better approach is taken by charities such as FARM Africa, who provide 'sustainable charity'- instead of sending a village some meat, they will send them a few goats, so that they can produce their own milk and cheese, and eventually, their own meat as well. Yes, this takes a bit longer to achieve, but once they have got on the way, they will be producing more goats, so will have more food available. They can then use this to trade for other necessities and gradually the whole area develops.

You mentioned that all the money is being taken by corrupt officials. Yes, some of it will, but some of it is reaching the right people, and to them, it makes a world of difference.

Also, you say they're in the same dilemma they were in 25 years ago. Wrong. They're still having problems, but they're different problems now. A lot of medical drives have been going on to vaccinate children (eg against polio, something that all children in the UK are vaccinated against as a standard thing), this is largely due to the donations made to charities, and if children are living longer and are more able to work now than they were 20 years ago, their house/village will be able to produce more food in their fields and can spend more time improving their living conditions.

Just to finish off this mammoth post, yes, it may seem like the money you are donating to overseas charities isn't making Africa (or indeed any other area of the world with similar problems) a better place, but change isn't going to happen overnight, but they'd be in a much worse situation if we all stopped donating money.

[fosking]

Originally Posted by kevan321

As jon said, life experience totally effects those opinions but to me I think protection of children, and cancer care etc within our own country should be the priority, but then I think places like africa really do need it before our animals etc.

I strongly agree with this and also the availability of clean water to everyone. Clean safe water to everyone imo has to be put above animal charities.

[Gregm]

I think it is better to help teach people how to do things better for themselves,
if you give a man a loaf of bread he can feed his family for the day, but if you give him the means to grow the wheat he can feed his family for life.

Money should not be going to the govts but supplies, and building materials should be shipped direct to the people that need it and given the help to use them

I think we need to help 3rd world countries, but there should be a balance with charities at home.

just though of something that really annoys me, I hate being accosted by charity workers on the high st, who ask you to sign up on direct debit, I know these people get commission, which I disagree with, and I would rather give to charity when I feel like it, and can afford it, or feel it is required, not be forced to sign up to monthly payments

[fosking]

Originally Posted by Sachmo_51_6

A better approach is taken by charities such as FARM Africa, who provide 'sustainable charity'- instead of sending a village some meat, they will send them a few goats, so that they can produce their own milk and cheese, and eventually, their own meat as well. Yes, this takes a bit longer to achieve, but once they have got on the way, they will be producing more goats, so will have more food available. They can then use this to trade for other necessities and gradually the whole area develops.

I think this way is the best. Plus, we can make a big difference by simply switching to fair trade products to help generate faster wealth and growth of these communities. This way I believe is more successful, especially in the long run than sending money.

[kevan321]

Originally Posted by Gregm

just though of something that really annoys me, I hate being accosted by charity workers on the high st, who ask you to sign up on direct debit, I know these people get commission, which I disagree with, and I would rather give to charity when I feel like it, and can afford it, or feel it is required, not be forced to sign up to monthly payments

Ye, I was at the pub on friday and someone came in and just went round every single person with a collection thing right in your face, and when you're in a big group etc it puts a lot of pressure on you to give, or you look bad. Thankfully I was with a bunch of cheap people, she got 5p from our whole table.

I just hate the fact that they can interrupt you while during your night, you wouldn't let someone who doesn't work for a charity do the same, but you would look awful if you tell them to bugger off. They clearly know what they're doing.

[bmh16]

The problem with donating to Africa is that too many countries are incredibly corrupt and nothing seems to happen. I guess local charities are the best but it's which ones to choose as i'm never sure which i should donate to!

[Blazer]

We had a discussion like this in PSHE and my teacher was asking why people are happy to donate to countries like Africa but are not so keen to donate to local charities.
I think it could be because people have been brainwashed by the media to think that this country is good and there is little poverty and in countries like Africa people.

In my opinion, I think giving to charity companies is not proper charity, it's a business, they make a lot of money out of it. The best way to give to charity is to do something yourself!

[delude]

Originally Posted by bmh16

The problem with donating to Africa is that too many countries are incredibly corrupt and nothing seems to happen. I guess local charities are the best but it's which ones to choose as i'm never sure which i should donate to!

Exactly, so much of the money is taken away before the actual target is reached.

[Sachmo_51_6]

Has anyone ever thought of using this whole freebies thing to donate to charity? As in, maybe every 5th referral that goes green is used to get £20 cash or whatever the amount is, and that money is donated to charity.

Just an idea...

[kevan321]

Originally Posted by Sachmo_51_6

Has anyone ever thought of using this whole freebies thing to donate to charity? As in, maybe every 5th referral that goes green is used to get £20 cash or whatever the amount is, and that money is donated to charity.

Just an idea...

I did, but since I've only had 1 since september that's not gonna be happening any time soon!

[xp79]

Im actualy going to Chenai india in october to go help children in orphanages and am desperate for fundraising.
If you would like to donate to my cause i would be more than happy to get you in touch with my youth worker who is organizing it.