There are always new posts on Facebook or other social media sites where someone is asking for money so they can travel to help unprivileged kids in third-world countries. Often this is seen ongofundme.org or another trusted site, and the person posting it is well known so they get money (even if it’s just small individual donations). It seems like it’s not that much money to give, because a lot of people will donate and it won’t break their bank accounts. It also makes the donors feel like they’re doing something good by helping their peers and the less fortunate.
Well, I think this is completely unnecessary. These people ask you for money and make it seem like they are going to help these kids, and they might actually believe that. But in reality, why can’t people just donate money to the kids through a foundation? That’s what they are there for in the first place. Why would we need people to go individually and help when we have volunteers and other programs doing so already?
This is not to say that I don’t support someone who wants to go help children and communities in other countries and pay their own way to do so. That is perfectly fine, because they are not taking any raised money away from those in need. These people asking for money via Facebook so that they can go “help” are only there temporarily. So basically they ask for money to stay in a hotel and for a flight, and they go to help these kids or a community and make connections with the kids, but then leave them. I think instead of wasting money on their hotel rooms and flights so they can go help for one week, the money should just be donated to the foundations for these causes. That is why people founded and created these programs. If people really feel the need to personally help these communities and children overseas, then they can sign up for the program or foundation and either stay overseas for a long period of time or frequently make trips over to these places to help.
Another part of the problem is that these people come and go. Kids will most likely start to get tired of making connections with people who just end up leaving them. Everyone says they will somehow stay in touch, and they might. But what are the chances they will be back to visit, realistically? It’s expensive, and more money wasted on visiting could just be put into helping them in other ways and through other outlets. The next time someone is asking for money to go help overseas, think about how they will be spending the majority of that money. It most likely would make more logical sense to donate to the established foundations and organizations.
