To all the westerners who donate money to help the poor in the 3rd world i have a question?

Question

Have you tried to find out where your money is going? while charitable organisations in the west are honest and do it in good faith the problem comes up when the money goes to those countries. most of it is pocketed by the politicians in those 3rd world countries. most of it goes to fund their private armies and to build koranic schools that breed muslim fundamentalists.
when the money reaches these countries the western groups in large lose control of it.
i have travelled widely in these countries and seen it all.

I wonder how we can genuinely go about helping the poor in those lands when corruption is a way of life in those lands?

Answer 1

The people that are trying to make a difference still need financing. Its a shitty situation all around.

Answer 2

I have been on my churches outreach committee in the past and I can tell you that you do need to be careful on who you are giving to. If the charity will not give you a written audited annual report, pass them by. My first step (since 2001) in reviewing a charity is to use Charity Navigator (see URL below). They have unbiased information on a number of groups.

For giving to some of the 3rd world countries, I would suggest checking out Food for the Poor. Almost all the staff is volunteer. so 96% of the money is going to the people they serve. They aid local groups, mostly Christian, to make sure the money does not go into the wrong hands. The money goes to anyone in need, you do not need to be part of the Christan faith to receive aid.

Answer 3

Your question was good but was spoiled by your apparent prejudice. This is was made it bad - "most of it goes to fund their private armies and to build koranic schools that breed muslim fundamentalists". This implies that in countries that do not "build koranic schools that breed muslim fundamentalists" money is wisely used! That is a fallacy. There are dictators in countries that a largely christains in nature. Corruption knows no religion and/or country and/or race and/or education level.

I agree that people must do their best to ensure that money donated is used for good purposes and not end up in some fat cats politicians' pockets. That should be done irrespective of who gets that donation!

Answer 4

I had some friends who were traveling to Africa to do some work over there. They gave health talks, help build a couple of homes and a church. I started a program to raise personal hygeine items for them to take with them to give to people. It was one of the main things they wanted to take with them to give to the people they met. We ended up with a couple of large suitcases full and some left over for their next trip (they go twice a year). It is really hard to get around the corruption. We have already learned that shipping things over is not possible. The people who control the ports are so dishonest. It doesn't matter who you are or what you are shipping they will hold it until you pay a large ransom for it. There are resrictions on the weight of your luggage. Our friends fill theirs to the limit with items to donate and just purchase the things they need for themselves after they are in the country. One carry on each is all they take for themselves.

I have learned that the best use of my money is to send it directly with people I know so that I can see what it is used for. It is such a great blessing to see the pictures and videos they come back with.

Answer 5

I have thought about this a lot in my life. It's not just money that goes to third world countries---it's even first-world, even your veryown church. One time I found out my church paid more to renovate an old painting than we had given in tithing 4 months....I had to really think about it.

I finally decided that God looks on our hearts and knows our true motivations for our giving. So now, when I give (to anything) I just say a little prayer that it be used for His good and His glory. Also, we try to be as anonymous as possible in our giving and this has been a great blessing. We have been able to give to friends, even neighbors, in secret.

The Bible says (as regards giving) "Don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing." meaning, don't dwell on your giving and your supposed "goodness" in doing so...just do it and leave the results up to God.

Answer 6

So, i'm specific which you have researched the tens of millions of Jewish families in the international in which you have based this generalization on. i'm specific that no person is conscious who donates to what enterprise. Are'nt Danny and Marlo Thomas Jewish.?... take a seem on the scientific institution and scientific help they created via their beneficiant donations to ALL toddlers.

Answer 7

Yes we are aware of the problem in Britain, follow up documentaries on Band Aid showed how little progress was being made and what was happening. Send tools and equipment, cans of food, clothing, medicine, they can of course be sold for profit, but less easy than to pocket than money.

Answer 8

You are right. The vast majority of it is either reinvested by the charity to get more money, or it is stolen by the governments that are in charge where it goes to. Corruption is the primary cause countries are poor.

Answer 9

Most charities are also NGOs - they don't pass on the money, they have volunteers who go to the countries themselves and work against poverty, cutting out corrupt governments from the equation.

Answer 10

Some churches establish missionary organizations in those countries which spend the money where it needs to be spent.