So, today, for some reason, I had been thinking about giving away money to help someone less fortunate out. I'm lucky enough, here in NZ, to have enough to pay the bills, plus some for saving, some for entertainment, and then a little more. I have been giving to Greenpeace for a while now, and that's cool, but today I clicked on a link through to World Vision's website. I have sponsored a little boy from India, 7 years old. I feel great about it, to know that I am doing just a tiny little bit in the grand scheme of things, but its enough to completely change the life of this person in a place I have never even been before.
Then I thought, why not sponsor more kids? Why stop at one? There is a long list of children that World Vision are finding sponsors for at the moment, so eventually, no matter how many I wanted to sponsor, I'd have to stop.
BUT I figured maybe some of you might be inspired to completely change a child's life, so I've posted the link below. For the cost of 3 cups of coffee a week, this little boy is going to have opportunities available to him that he would not have otherwise had. I have changed the world a little bit today, and so can you.
[ external link ]
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Good for you, WR. It's a nice feeling, ...
Good for you, WR. It's a nice feeling, eh?
I had a little thing in recent times ...
I had a little thing in recent times where I took major purchases I had made, rounded them up to the next thousand (I had brought a car, new bass amp, a couple things like that) and thats what I owed charity. Anyway, it added up and I had paid out, not through lack of want, but lack of persuit on my part. Had a brain wave, I must be able to make online donations! I could, but I couldn't do it with giving name and details as it had to be made by credit card. I didn't want recognisions or reciepts or things... not sure why, just hte way I am at the moment.
Does anyone know of any sites where one can make donations by bank deposit?
I hadn't paid out.......
I hadn't paid out....
hmm, heh, I would of thought that ...
hmm,
heh, I would of thought that at least half a dozen bank numbers would of shown up, claiming to be various 'charities'
maybe you could try the Labour ...
maybe you could try the Labour Party.
I hear they are still looking for funds re: pledge card.
rumor also has it that Jesus Crux , Brooke Fraser and White Rhino will be teaming up to record the new theme song for WV.
I was keen but Brooke was more ...
I was keen but Brooke was more interested in playing bullrush than writing songs, and it turns out she's pretty fucking dangerous.
:-P yeah, I bet she'd be a handfull at ...
:-P yeah, I bet she'd be a handfull at bullrush... a few tips from her old man no doubt.
BullRush indeed. Bulls on Parade ...
BullRush indeed.
Bulls on Parade maybe? You go get 'em Sam.
de do d d do d de do de do d d do d de ...
de do d d do d de do de do d d do d de do de do d d do d de do de do d d do d de do do do d d do do d d d d d..... ugh you get the idea.
Sponsoring a child..... an unequal ...
Sponsoring a child..... an unequal power relationship between those giving and those receiving, it's like I'm giving a dollar a day so you can eat - so you better be grateful. The idea makes me uneasy, I'd rather just give to a charity.
The reasoning behind child sponsorship ...
The reasoning behind child sponsorship is that it obligates the sponsor to a regular donation for a number of years. You can stop contributions to other charities whenever you like, but it's a lot harder to opt out of child sponsorship donations, especially when you get christmas cards, and progress reports with photos.
Personally, I'd recommend Unicef - they go out of their way to make you feel good & comfortable about contributing, & since I signed up they've sent me a single letter, just saying "thanks heaps, your contribution makes a big difference". I get begging letters from WV all the time and I'm already giving them plenty; not to mention glossy magazines that go straight in the rubbish, and those goat gift catalogues, which I think are the most cynical insult to charity marketing this side of televangelists.
Amnesty international are quite good - they're good at calling attention to all sorts of stuff that doesn't reach the mainstream press & their begging letters just beg you to write letters. Greenpeace are ok, although their monthly paper must have routed a rainforest by now. I'm surprised they haven't offered an email-only option yet.
I think whether someone is tied to an ...
I think whether someone is tied to an obligated donation, or if they only give once in there life it is better than nothing at all. Myself, I'd personally like to give a healthy amount, not in a regulated, obligated structure, but in a self disciplined manner. I'd still give as much, more so infact, but I'd like to be anonymous in doing so.
You could try googling "charity ...
You could try googling "charity donation automatic payment" to see if you can find some bank account numbers for charities, then choose one to make a deposit or set up an automatic payment. Most major charities use direct debit; but the city missions, starship & youthline all have bank account numbers online.
Also, you might think giving a name, getting a receipt & applying for the resulting tax return is tacky, but you can reclaim the tax & give it straight back to your charity. It'll increase the amount of your donation by a third.
hmm, didn't really think about it that ...
hmm, didn't really think about it that way... its a good point.
//The reasoning behind child ...
//The reasoning behind child sponsorship is that it obligates the sponsor to a regular donation for a number of years. You can stop contributions to other charities whenever you like, but it's a lot harder to opt out of child sponsorship donations, especially when you get christmas cards, and progress reports with photos.
//
and that's what weird about it, and it seems quite humiliating to the family, that they have to rely on the generosity,(er ahem $1 a day not really generous) of a complete stranger with which they have nothing in common. Somewhere within this lies the implication that we are superior. they are at fault...
would you donate $365 to a single cause ...
would you donate $365 to a single cause otherwise? I'm not implying you wouldn't, just out of interest. I agree, I'm not comfortable with child sponsership either, for reasons a little different to yours, but I still would like to give as much, just in a different way.
} } }and that's what weird about it, ...
} } }and that's what weird about it, and it seems quite humiliating to the family, that they have to rely on the generosity,(er ahem $1 a day not really generous) of a complete stranger with which they have nothing in common. Somewhere within this lies the implication that we are superior. they are at fault...
Dude, think about if a tsunami hit NZ and we were all poverty-stricken instantly. Would you care if say some American guy who you would never meet wanted to give you say $30 a day to live on? Would you feel that by taking the aid you were implying that he was superior? Or would you just be grateful you could feed your family? Maybe that's a perception that YOU would have as a donater (donator?) but that definitely never came into it for me. I just wanted to give part of the money I earn to something bigger than myself.
Of course I understand the kid himself doesn't get to wear the latest Nike Air Jordans while the other kids in the village starve just because he's my main man, but trust me it is directly impacting on the kid who you sponsor's life. As I might have mentioned, my mum sponsored a kid for ten years and eventually he became a self-reliant adult and her payments stopped. Because of her, he got more opportunities than he would ever have had without her support. That's so awesome.
As for recognition, I really don't care at all who knows I am doing this and was kinda embarrassed to potentially be seen blowing my own trumpet on here, but the fact is we all have the option to make a difference, and its up to us whether we do or not. I'd spent years thinking "I must sponsor a child one day" and then I just did it, and now I feel just a little bit happier when I think of it, knowing I'm easing someone else's load. I recognise that I am doing something good - that's all the recognition I need.
Ok it's 2.55 and that's past my bed time.
..that kid you've sponsored now has an ...
..that kid you've sponsored now has an obligation to be a success. What if he doesn't want to (or isn't capable of) grow up to be a brilliant surgeon? will you be dissapointed?
i'm not trying to put a damper on the ...
i'm not trying to put a damper on the concept of donating to charities, but when you 'sponsor a child' you arent sponsoring the child directly, you are sponsoring the whole thing - world vision. the child you receive a picture of will be part of the community in which world vision is doing charity work in but will not be directly getting money from you via world vision.
good on those who help the less fortunate - there are plenty of less fortunates here at home, perhaps sometimes we need to look down our street before we send money overseas...
I'd give a dollar a day for condoms ...
I'd give a dollar a day for condoms and sex education to stop all these unwanted children.
Infact I'd like to see a breakfasts at schools for NZ kids charity start. That is something I would actually get behind.
There are plenty of schools that give ...
There are plenty of schools that give their kids breakfast in the morning. Ring your local school and if they don't already do it, it wouldn't cost much to provide. A lot of teachers pay out of their own pockets for kids to have something to eat in the morning, so they would love to hear from someone willing to help out. Go for it.
problem is, it would get abused. and ...
problem is, it would get abused. and parents would be even more lazy in the knowledge there is free food at school when thier children get there.
yeah, we could just give up on trying ...
yeah, we could just give up on trying all together then aye... considering there are no full proof charity schemes which can't be ripped off or manipulated in anyway.
:)
//problem is, it would get abused. and ...
//problem is, it would get abused. and parents would be even more lazy in the knowledge there is free food at school when thier children get there.
Any of the kids who qualify for the free and reduced lunch program at a regular school (here, at least) qualify because of their parents' level of income. If they're getting a free lunch at school, it's possible the kid will get a new pair of shoes, or dental care, or maybe just a better dinner because their family budget isn't quite as tight. It's also possible that the money will go to fuel mom's drinking binge, but why punish the kid for that? Why not make sure they have a nutritious breakfast/lunch, so they can do well in school and not have to end up like their parents?
My sponsered kid looks surly....
My sponsered kid looks surly.
And also, why not get the ...
And also, why not get the "recognition"? All the recognition you get unless you tell people is the tax stuff... and then you fill that in to make sure the government pays their share. If you think "I don't want my 3rd back" do what Joanna would suggest and redonate your rebate money.
Excellent cause. my husband and I ...
Excellent cause. my husband and I sponsor a little girl in Brazil who desperatly wants to be a doctor when she grows up, and is the top student in her class. The last girl we sponsored reached the age of 12, so the payments stoped, time for her to work for the family, get married and start her own family. Its hard reading the letters with all her hopes and dreams, knowing that she will realistically never achieve them.
//all her hopes and dreams, knowing ...
//all her hopes and dreams, knowing that she will realistically never achieve them.
you can relate though on some level aye?
As he reaches for another mince ...
As he reaches for another mince pie.............
Ouch!...
Ouch!
bit rough i know, but so is the music....
bit rough i know, but so is the music.