Charities

[Ravique]

I think first of all we must think about the kids. They are our future, and they must have a good and happy childhood to provide a good future for us. I am speaking of ill kids and kids with no parents. I also now that in some small countrys ( like mine ) international charity is very poor, so i think if i had a choice i would help charity centers here.
As we plan a certain % of our earning is going to be spent on charity. So why dont we spend 1/2 of this % on the charity we individually pick, and 1/2 of this % on the charity we pick here in this forum. We could do a poll every month or something like that.

[zuijlen]

I just joined this forum and I would like to tell you a little bit about the charities I support.

One charity I like very much is Habitat for Humanity. They build houses all over the world (one hundred countries at last count) for people in need. The houses are financed with affordable non-interest loans and the new owners (and often their family) also contribute their own labor (sweat equity). By not just giving the houses away, Habitat achieves that the owners derive a sense of pride and, indeed, "ownership". The endeavor also creates many volunteer opportunities all over the world. I haven't tried that yet but a colleague of mine tells me it's great fun and very fulfilling.

Another charity I give to is The Carter Center, an organization founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The Carter Center is also working internationally and engaged in many different projects. One area is Health, where The Carter Center has been instrumental in almost eradicating (99% reduction) the Guinae worm disease. I like their hands-on approach. Many solutions are not very costly in itself, but need long-term dedication to be successful.

I have a few other areas I contribute to, such as conservation and Native American causes, including education. I do limit myself in the sense that I am not adding charities all the time; it would take from the ones I already give to. Now if I had some more money...

Job van Zuijlen

[SJR3t2]

About helping the children, I think it is very wise to help the children, the children are our futor. I do not think that throughing money at someone is really going to make the world a "better" place. Yes money can stop hunger for food. But if you really want to help children you should work on making yourself better, and then your neighors will hopefully see your good example and do the same. And eventually some parents of some children will better themselves and teach their children how to better themselves. I personaly think atleast in America and most likely everywhere in the world, there is more "good fortune" there has been in centures, but I also beleive their is much more wickidness also. In fact it is getting to the point that people are saying that wickidness is write or should be acceptable. If you really want to help children, help them become a better person, that is what it is all about. Not to be mean, but how do you know the child you help out is the next Hitler, you don't. Now that is not very likely to happen, but if you really want to help the world out, I think it is much wiser to help yourself to be a better person, then your family, then your neighbor, not someone on the other side of the world. Money never changed anyone, just made it easier to do what they wanted to do in the first place.

Steven

[Ravique]

Very nice words there. Only how can you teach a starved child how to be better? How can you teach a child living without parents in poornes, to do like you, when you have a home and a peace of bred everyday? First of all you must worm, and feed them, and then teach them about living.
And I even didn`t start talking about sick or drug addicted children.
Yes, i agree money dont change anyone in the good side. Everything should be done wise.

[SJR3t2]

I do agree, we have to help them get on their feet, but it is not my focus. I would rather take more time to teach someone to fish then to fish for them the rest of my life. The hard part for me is knowing the wisdom of what is really going on.

Steven

[Ravique]

I uderstand what are you saying, unfortunantly i think you don`t uderstand me =). My point is that to teach someone to fish , you first need to give him a fishing rod, a pair of boots, and other stuff. Only then you could tech them. And definently you must not fish for him.
And to give him a fishing rod and a pair of boots you need what?

[SJR3t2]

I do understand that, but how much does a fish pole cost, a stick and some twine. Come on, that does not cost that much. I do beleive one should help finacally when one can, but I strongly beleive that for most things people can solve on their own. They just choose not to, and they need some motovation. Because of my religous back ground, I personaly the only tradgy in life is sin. And thus my focus on who people are, and not their circumstance.

Steven

[Ravique]

I agree with you, i think we just didn`t understand each other fully from the begining =)

[SJR3t2]

No harm done.

Steven

[scorpion]

You both have the same idea, I think. Both of you have the same destination, go to the same direction, but use different road to that destination. Steven is going from USA to Rome and Ravique is going from Russian to Rome.

In fact, anything that help children will do the same; whether you give them fish before teaching how to fish or teaching before giving the fish. It's the same!

Nice to hear you discuss about this,
Scorpion