I've been reading stories from some Nigerian users which have got me thinking about charity and giving. Charity and Giving are a HUGE thing for me, but only if it's done right and I've read two examples of it done wrong:
Example#1
@jjmusa2004/misplaced-priority-nigeria-plans-n5000
In his words:
"Nigeria is a nation with over two hundred million citizens, a significant number of whom live in abject poverty. "
He then goes on to mention how the government will be borrowing 800 Million to:
"... serve about 10 million households, and each of the proposed 50 million Nigerians will get N5000 ($6.7) per month for six months."
The author was not pleased at all for that plan because while he supports giving to the poor he thinks that's just a horrible idea.
Example #2
"I was in a keke napep gisting with my sister when suddenly a guy talked to me from the window, asking for 100 naira note"
He goes on to say how the beggar is a fraud and that there is a scam going around where people are asking for 100 Naira so be careful who you give to.
I had to have a deep think about those two situations. In my heart I like to think about myself as a charitable person but neither of those situations sounded good to me.
Take the first situation:
Assume I did something similar. I borrow $800USD and give 50 people 5000Naira for six months. Then at the end of the six months I ask my wife and family to help payback the loan......
My Wife Would Kill Me!
Take the second situation:
Assume I give the person the 100 Naira and later find out it was used for bad purposes. I'd feel like I wasted my money for no good outcome. My charity turned into waste.
So How Do I Give Properly?
My original thought and topic I wanted to write on was:
But....
I did a little bit of searching and thinking and found some giving guidelines.
That made me so happy I went looking!! Even if it came from an unusual source.
It seems that a Jewish Philosopher wrote on exactly that topic over 900 years ago. His name is Maimonides and he gave 8 levels of Charity from the most beneficial to the least beneficial! I'm not Jewish (I'm Christian) but I can happily stand behind this Wisdom. So, taken from
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/45907/jewish/Eight-Levels-of-Charity.htm
Level 8 (least beneficial)
When one gives unwillingly.
Ever just given because you had to? Yes. This is that level.
Level 7
When one gives too little....but gladly with a smile.
It's not enough but its something.
Level 6
When one gives to the poor person after being asked.
Sounds like giving to the person who asks for 100 Naira. Not very high on the benefit list.
Level 5
one gives to the poor person directly into his hand, but gives before being asked.
Sounds like the government giving a handout to the people. Still not very high on the list.
Level 4
when one does not know to whom one gives, but the poor person does know his benefactor.
A fellow guildmember at The Alliance (enginewitty) put out a request to the guild :
"we have someone needing assistance. If you can provide anything, that would be great. If you want more details, please DM me. Send to myself or thealliance. Thank you in advance."
For any who donate they are donating at this level. Someone will appreciate their donation but the donor need not now who they are giving to.
(to me this is where the true Charity and fun in giving begins)
Level 3
when one knows to whom one gives, but the recipient does not know his benefactor
The idea of an anonymous donation to make someone's day. To do it without their asking and without getting any praise from them. Just to know it likely gave someone a smile. That's a great feeling....at least for me.
Level 2
This one I'll directly quote from the original article.
[2] A lesser level of charity than this is to give to the poor without knowing to whom one gives, and without the recipient knowing from who he received. For this is performing a mitzvah solely for the sake of Heaven. This is like the “anonymous fund” that was in the Holy Temple [in Jerusalem]. There the righteous gave in secret, and the good poor profited in secret. Giving to a charity fund is similar to this mode of charity, though one should not contribute to a charity fund unless one knows that the person appointed over the fund is trustworthy and wise and a proper administrator, like Rabbi Chananyah ben Teradyon.
I would equate this to me giving to my local church and local charities. I know my church will use the funds to help those in need and help my local congretation. My donation is in private and I'll never get any reward.
I also like the caveat in the quote one should not contribute to a charity fund unless one know that the person appointed over the fund is trustworthy and wise...
Donating to a charity is a great thing but the donor MUST take care to check the leadership of the charity before giving!
The Top Level!
The greatest level, above which there is no greater, is to support a fellow Jew by endowing him with a gift or loan, or entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand so that he will not need to be dependent upon others . . .
Personally I would remove the term "fellow Jew" and replace it with "fellow human in need"
For years I've heard about problems across the world. About people in need of food, shelter, medicine...but most of all hope.
Sure I could just give money to a charity operation and hope that the money makes it but I hear about aid being confiscated by the government. Charitable operations using much of the money I donate to hire people to ask for more money. Plus many other abuses.
Hive actually give me a way to hear from people all over the world..but so do so many other apps.
Hive ALSO gives me the opportunity to send money in real time to anyone, anywhere! That's huge!
If I could find someone to partner with or hire to do real help far from home where it is actually needed. THAT is a project that I can wholeheartedly get behind.
And a shoutout to 
"People truly do live with the minimum wage..30K naira" .....which to me means that for about 65HBD per month I could potentially hire someone (ohh...possibilities!)
However, I'm still new to Hive and have so much to learn about how to meet the right people, how to ask the right questions, and how not to offend people in the process! Plus I have no reputation or credibility!
Which is why I joined the Hive Learners! ...and I hope the community will help me grow so I can maybe reach my dream someday.
If you made it to the end, thanks for reading 😁