Some of you may wonder if it really helps when you give to a charity. I've heard many things over the years, most just opinions of missionaries or those who do more "analyzing" than helping.
Some people say missionaries or aid workers shouldn't take clothing, shoes and other supplies to poor countries when instead you can buy them from a market in the country you visit. Now that's all fine and dandy in a perfect world but almost every country in Africa charges $10-$20 or more for a pair
of shoes that will fall apart quickly. The same with clothing made in Africa. Not all of it is great. The dyes run and the material is very thin and doesn't last long after washing it. The same with books and other school supplies.
Who wants to pay $7 or more for 1 chapter in africa when people can donate them for free. So who wouldn't want to take donated clothes, books, toys, medical supplies and shoes to a country who's people are in need. Believe me, FREE will always trump everything else. Especially when you're charity working with a smaller budget. Even $7 for a new Bible is really expensive, that's why a lot of people in Uganda don't own one. For the villagers who don't have $5- $10 for a new outfit, a donated one is just as good.
People can buy soap, food and other things locally to boost the economy but not all things are
a "Good Buy". People say give a hand up-not a hand out. Invest in Micro loan programs.
A lot of people have sold handmade bead jewelry to help bring income to African widows.
Even I've sold it to benefit kids in Uganda.
Its great until you run out of a market of people who want to buy it. Maybe making organic soap is a better idea. People should be encouraged to stick with selling things that people need all the time not something they will easily lose interest in. One of the most important things needed in most African villages is for people to learn money management. Living on $1 or less a day leaves little they can save for something they need.
Feeding programs work because kids are too young to work and have to dig in dumps to get a bit of food.
They have no other choice if their families can't provide for them.
So schools or churches provide a place where kids can get daily meals. Some places even send bags of food home with kids so they will have something to eat for a few days.
Another thing I have heard and seen firsthand is "Child Sponsorship" does work. Every child deserves the chance at an education. With our sponsorship a child even gets 2 meals a day at school. At home they get get only one or sometimes nothing. So when a sponsor comes along and helps a child who'd never otherwise have the chance to go to school it makes a change in their life. Education is the best thing the child can have. Without one there's no hope to get a good job in Africa.
With our sponsorship program things are a bit different and there's more of a closeness between a child and a sponsor. You'll get photos each month of the child with their monthly gifts such as school supplies and hygiene items. Things they desperately need but could never afford. Some larger sponsorship programs send photos of kids only once every year or two so its hard to feel connected with kids when you don't hear from them or get photos of them often. So will consider sponsoring a child today? If'd you like to sign up and help a child for only $15 a month then email us here info@auntiesangels.com Thanks! See more photos of kids who need a sponsor here www.auntiesangels.com
Some people say missionaries or aid workers shouldn't take clothing, shoes and other supplies to poor countries when instead you can buy them from a market in the country you visit. Now that's all fine and dandy in a perfect world but almost every country in Africa charges $10-$20 or more for a pair
of shoes that will fall apart quickly. The same with clothing made in Africa. Not all of it is great. The dyes run and the material is very thin and doesn't last long after washing it. The same with books and other school supplies.
Who wants to pay $7 or more for 1 chapter in africa when people can donate them for free. So who wouldn't want to take donated clothes, books, toys, medical supplies and shoes to a country who's people are in need. Believe me, FREE will always trump everything else. Especially when you're charity working with a smaller budget. Even $7 for a new Bible is really expensive, that's why a lot of people in Uganda don't own one. For the villagers who don't have $5- $10 for a new outfit, a donated one is just as good.
People can buy soap, food and other things locally to boost the economy but not all things are
a "Good Buy". People say give a hand up-not a hand out. Invest in Micro loan programs.
A lot of people have sold handmade bead jewelry to help bring income to African widows.
Even I've sold it to benefit kids in Uganda.
Its great until you run out of a market of people who want to buy it. Maybe making organic soap is a better idea. People should be encouraged to stick with selling things that people need all the time not something they will easily lose interest in. One of the most important things needed in most African villages is for people to learn money management. Living on $1 or less a day leaves little they can save for something they need.
Feeding programs work because kids are too young to work and have to dig in dumps to get a bit of food.
They have no other choice if their families can't provide for them.
So schools or churches provide a place where kids can get daily meals. Some places even send bags of food home with kids so they will have something to eat for a few days.
Another thing I have heard and seen firsthand is "Child Sponsorship" does work. Every child deserves the chance at an education. With our sponsorship a child even gets 2 meals a day at school. At home they get get only one or sometimes nothing. So when a sponsor comes along and helps a child who'd never otherwise have the chance to go to school it makes a change in their life. Education is the best thing the child can have. Without one there's no hope to get a good job in Africa.
With our sponsorship program things are a bit different and there's more of a closeness between a child and a sponsor. You'll get photos each month of the child with their monthly gifts such as school supplies and hygiene items. Things they desperately need but could never afford. Some larger sponsorship programs send photos of kids only once every year or two so its hard to feel connected with kids when you don't hear from them or get photos of them often. So will consider sponsoring a child today? If'd you like to sign up and help a child for only $15 a month then email us here info@auntiesangels.com Thanks! See more photos of kids who need a sponsor here www.auntiesangels.com
July 1, 2012 1:28pm
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