We often resort to charity to rid our conscience of the guilt that we are not doing enough for our fellow men but it is important to understand that they not only need our money but also need our time and efforts.
There is no easy way around this situation and the money we donate to various charitable institutions may do more harm than benefit the underprivileged. Such funds are often used to exploit the needy in the pretext of providing help.
Irrespective of our financial contribution, the time and wisdom we invest in solving their problems is pivotal in making a difference. Its also important to assess whether we are just providing for their instantaneous needs or making a sustainable change in their life. Feeding the hungry may be a virtue but helping them earn their bread is brotherhood IMHO.
Finally, its important not to support any religious evangelism as part of charity. Conflict of cultures has claimed enough blood and we should not perpetuate it in the name of charity.
There is no easy way around this situation and the money we donate to various charitable institutions may do more harm than benefit the underprivileged. Such funds are often used to exploit the needy in the pretext of providing help.
Irrespective of our financial contribution, the time and wisdom we invest in solving their problems is pivotal in making a difference. Its also important to assess whether we are just providing for their instantaneous needs or making a sustainable change in their life. Feeding the hungry may be a virtue but helping them earn their bread is brotherhood IMHO.
Finally, its important not to support any religious evangelism as part of charity. Conflict of cultures has claimed enough blood and we should not perpetuate it in the name of charity.
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Charity is not about donating financially.The human nature among us will not let you go away from the situation where you see many fellow beings starving for food and shelter
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@Ram - Lets consider a hypothetical situation where you can either adopt a kid for an year and provide for his schooling and boarding or you can feed a 1000 for a day. What would you do when you know that many of them are starving for days?
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Giving him 1000 in a single day is easy job for me and do you think we can adopt them for an year with 1000 ?.who ever donate will surely think about all this, as they are not capable of adopting the people they donate in a single time.
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You got me wrong! Would you feed a thousand children for a day or adopt one kid for an year?
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I go for feeding thousand children for a day.I understand Praveen that they are expecting time and care from us and all the working people think they are donating for a good cause.which indeed effecting them.But from the perspective of donator he is just contributing from his earnings for the welfare/food of other fellow beings.
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First things first! You are not alone in your desire to help them out. Secondly you are only postponing their problem by a day. Instead of you and many like you just prolonging their problem by feeding them for a day, if you adopt a kid and change atleast one kid's destiny, you will set an example for others and eventually each one of those kids will find a better future. We need to make a change for them....not prolong their misery!
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The whole point is that they need us to make the right choices and give them hope and life. IMHO every person who throws a few bucks around to overcome the sinking feeling in his heart when he sees some people in despair is just washing his guilt off than really doing anything for them. He is no better than the bystander who is walking away indifferently. They are not born to live off our alms. They need someone to lead them to dignity and self reliance.
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"Give a man a Fish. feed him a day. Teach a man to fish, Feed him for a lifetime" @Praveen-I agree but at the same time I feel that your view is a bit too cynical. To start, all of the companies that film those commercials that wrench our hearts out could have used that money instead to help in more practical ways. Then you have the issue of the governments in the areas in question, taking all of the money that it's people produce and it goes to a few select individuals. The issue is much cont
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Larger and more complex than just adoption vs donation. It's an issue of Morality vs the Morally corrupt. As to the things that we as societal members can do are of no limits, its just within the own person's world/reality that the motion must start. Even little things to start, like volunteering to work at a local Boys+Girls club, change the lives of the kids next door, set that example.
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I agree with you too Nicholas, one need not search for opportunities in faraway lands to contribute. There is always someone in need of our help if we look around. On the other hand, debate about morality, effective governance, etc. has been raging for centuries if not millennia and while rectifying these problems is important, these concerns should not prevent us from lending a helping hand. All I say is that we should review our methods of charity and contribute effectively!
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@Praveen-Ah I see, I agree. Here in America charity organizations are "Non-Profit", but how can a Charity hope to make a difference if they have no profits to re-invest in the charity?
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Non-profit does not mean that the said endeavour cannot make any profit but that it does not distribute those profits back to its organizers / owners. Many non-profits do invest their profits into the same activity or diversify into other activities that appeal to their ideals.
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http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong.html
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I agree with Dan Pallotta about hiring better talent to manage non-profits but there are trust issues around spending on fund-raising, media, etc. Not every non-profit is trustworthy enough to let them woo public and experiment with their money unless the leadership has exceptional track record. There are always jackals dressed in sheepskin and this uncertainty constrains the best for preventing the worst from happening. True, we need a new framework to measure and regulate Non-profits.
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July Peter Buffett recently raised his voice against charities putting donor appeasement before the needs of the people they are catering to. His interview - http://goo.gl/R69a52 .
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