Is it a coincidence that I was just recently creating a reel for a foundation on something similar to this topic? Maybe it is. But I find it interesting anyway. What I tried to communicate in that reel is that beyond the compassion and “pitiful” efforts or support usually given to orphans, there's something better and more that could be done for a bigger and lasting impact, which is built on opportunities, not pity.
That was basically the theme or message of the reel. I believe it goes in some way in line with a part of what is being considered in this topic. Money is important in charity and in helping people normally. In fact, when a person seeks help or is expecting it, hardly likely that his or her expectations or hopes don't lean towards monetary support. Help is basically quantified in money most of the time.
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Maybe because money sorts out almost everything. Even the resources we need, money can be used to purchase them. Though in some cases people would prefer the donation or provision of the resources directly and not in the form of money. But money goes for many situations. Perhaps, it's because it's easy to carry, as we have it in cashless form, and much more because it leaves the receivers at the discretion of doing what they deem fit.
Looking at the bigger picture, I think that when it comes to charity, it can transition from basically giving money to empowering those in need. It could be a business or even a skill to learn and monetise. There's something my friends say. It's that, if you alone among your friends become wealthy, you might suffer it because you'll want to help the others and that might not stop. But when they are also well-to-do, nobody becomes a burden to another.
When you give people money, it depends on what they do with it, to some extent. And in the case of charity, you should know that the recipients of such charitable acts are surviving on the hope of the help that will come. So then, empowering them with a business or the privilege to learn a skill will do them more good as it will take them from just that hope of help to survive to certainty because they make their money.
What's more? It's a progressive impact. When they become empowered, they empower others as well because they know what it means to be in such a situation. The seeds planted through such an empowerment effort give rise to generations of impact. It'll be progressive. Also, it's about allowing them to become something better in life. Giving money alone serves a need, but empowering them serves for something more.
Well, I should probably reconcile the fact that in some situations and maybe at some point, the money could be what is needed. But with the money being channelled to needs and provisions, it serves a momentary purpose, which could be the case in some situations. It could be about the now, and money is what is needed then. In the bigger picture, skills and other forms of empowerment could be more impactful.