Many people are moved to philanthropy and those with good hearts and the motivation will do anything they can to help. I am very glad that most charity organizations accept as little or as much as a person is willing to give, because it encourages many to donate. It takes no time, you can send funds from the comfort of your own home, and unless you have the money to spare and a passion for helping others (or need the publicity), you only really have to donate an amount you won't even miss.
The best part is that you can't feel guilty because every dollar counts. I spent a year living in an apartment building in Ottawa where representatives from Red Cross would regularly make their rounds. Their causes vary from International Natural Disasters (like the Pakistan Flood) to Anti-bullying Programs in local schools. I decided to donate $20 a month from then on. The representative informed that one out of five people chose to donate $20 at least once if not monthly. I did a little calculation: 19 floors in my building, 10 apartments per floor making it 190 apartments. Divided by 5, is roughly 38 donations in my apartment building alone. 38 multiplied by 20 is $760 donated by my apartment building, excluding further monthly donations and other superfluous donations people randomly gave.
I thought $20 wouldn't do much but it does make a difference, no matter how small. Also, I'd rather people donate what they can or what they want than not donate at all.
However, I've heard stories about people being scammed by various "charity organizations" who prey on kind hearts. In truth, the way charity donations work you can never truly know where your money goes. If you're anything like me, it isn't good enough that you've given the money, you want to know that it's reached the people you wanted to help.
There are several organizations out there who take it upon themselves to inspect and evaluate charity organizations and release their findings in their publications to help people choose which organizations are trustworthy and worth donating too. I've come across the American Institute of Philanthropy which evaluate organizations on their website: www.charitywatch.org
Anyone looking to donate should definitely look into "watchdog" services like the AIP before donating.
There is one other issue though. Donations sent to the Red Cross and other well-known charity organizations considered "trustworthy" are used for overhead costs, advertising and other fees. I understand that all this is necessary to ensure the programs can be run and that eventually people can be helped, but I'm not sure how I feel about being part of marketing and the commercialization of charity organizations. But that's just me.
I know it's necessary, but I think I'd rather know that my money directly affected a person in need. Then again, in that way I shouldn't be helping by donating through third-party organizations. I would rather establish that personal contact with the person I'm helping. I don't like being a faceless donor, nor do I like them being faceless victims. I suppose that sort of thing is done through sponsorships of orphans etc.
Speaking of which, I was looking up organizations that connects sponsors with orphans around the world and I was surprised to see that most of them ask that you help feed, clothes and educate a young orphan IN THE WAYS OF JESUS CHRIST.
As a Muslim, I understand that the primary goal of believers of missionary-type religions after being admitted to their version of heaven is to welcome more people into their religion, but it seems to be almost self-serving. These children need basic amenities that we take for granted, but it almost seems conditional upon them accepting the religion of the sponsor.
There's something that just doesn't sit right with me about that.
More on the topic of Religion in the World soon.
On the 21st of July, a flood ravaged Pakistan causing many deaths, and leaving a large portion of the population homeless. So far, it is estimated that 1,500 lives have been lost and 20 MILLION people have been displaces, made homeless, contracted diseases from the unclean water or have otherwise been severely affected by the flood.
A fifth of the country's land mass is now flooded and International Aid has been very slow to react. Just today a large group of Pakistanis came together and blocked a major highway in anger because of the lack of effective aid they have been receiving.
Pakistan is ravaged by monsoon floods every year. It has never been as bad as it is now, but every year people are driven away from their homes and every year the people of Pakistan face the suffering and destruction natural disaster brings them.
I have read comments from people who believe the Pakistanis shouldn't even receive as much aid as they do. They face floods every year and some people think the money is wasted on structures and lives that will only be destroyed again next year.
It saddens me that there are people who think this way. The flood has wiped out homes, schools and hospitals - and took lives with it. The survivors have to deal, not only with death of family, friends and countrymen, but also with cholera, diarrhea and other water-borne diseases that they contract because they cannot find clean water to drink. Relief is not coming quickly enough, and food is only being handed out by some organizations when TV crews are filming for publicity.
Yes, they will face it all again, but rather than disparage their plight it would be more worthwhile and useful that people donate more funds to implement preventative measures rather than just funnel funds to repair damage. If better houses can be built in better areas, wouldn't that save more lives? How about funding research and applying evacuation procedures that will warn these people of the floods before they arrive and help them save their families before it was too late?
My prayers and thoughts go out to the families and people that have suffered and are still suffering on account of the flood. I only hope that the aid they need will arrive and that they will be given the provisions they require and deserve. I hope in future the world reacts quicker to the disasters this area faces and someday that they will be able to prevent the loss of so many lives and livelihood.
Tomorrow, I'd like to address an issue that came to light in my research of the flood in Pakistan. Can charity organizations be trusted with our donations?
Most of my summers are long and lazy, when little gets accomplished and little change is achieved. Although I start every vacation with a mental list of "summer resolutions" which I plan on fulfilling to make me a better person or make my time worthwhile, I rarely ever devote a single day to the work I want to do.
Procrastination is a very common thing, and unrealistic though it may be to believe one can be productive every minute of the day - there is a lot that can be done that isn't. This translates as un-actualized potential and I believe it is the reason the world is in the current state it is in.
Few people have any claim to true happiness. On one side of the world it is because for all the material goods they own, they are spiritually void and unfulfilled; on the other side of the world it is because they are stricken daily with poverty, disease and calamities that our wealthy and privileged lives rarely face and can barely imagine.
In an effort to better myself by dispelling my ignorance and encouraging my charity, I will attempt to educate myself on one global issue every few days, starting today. I will use this blog as a tool of reflection about the issue of the day and I hope that this will inspire me to help in whatever way I can.
At least by informing myself, I can help raise awareness. A little further down the line, I hope I can do more than just that.
With God's help, I hope I can effect as much change for the better as a single person can in this world.
For a better world,
S.
