Don't forget about developmental aid

As I watch the Hope for Haiti telethon, I have to rant.

Emergency aid is important but be careful who you give to

People all over the world have been donating money to organizations such as Red Cross, World Vision, UNICEF and United Way to assist with aid to the Haitian people. Although I agree that emergency aid is important when an country is struck by a natural disaster, I do have a couple of concerns.

My first concern is to be careful which organizations you donate to. For most, approximately 90% of your money will get to the people you are donating to but if you want to make the most of your money, do some research before giving it away. You wouldn't throw your money at the first car you purchase without making sure it will work to its fullest potential. You wouldn't buy the first house you see without inspecting the interior. So I wonder why anyone would risk sending money to give a family a jug of clean water when after a quick internet search, you could also send them a bag of rice.

Some organizations will have a breakdown on their website or you can call them to ask how much of your money will go toward their projects. The simplest way to compare is at Charity Navigator. On this website you can search for a charity and a pie chart will appear, giving a breakdown of where the funds go. Unfortunately there isn't a Canadian version of this website (as far as I know) but it's a good site to visit for your reference.

Donate your time

Another concern of mine is that many people aren't noticing the need for developmental aid. One of the biggest things I learned during my short time in Uganda is the need for enhancing skills among the people of developing countries. Not everyone can go overseas to train Africans, Haitians, etc. how to better excel in their trade but if you do have a little bit of free time, volunteer for an organization and donate your time.

Admiration

I adore the children at the schools I work at for educating themselves about Haiti and donating their allowance to various organizations. I have a lot of respect for my awesome friends like Mandippal Jandu contributing musical talents to local telethons and half of his earnings, over the next couple of months, to the Haitian people.

Of course, keep donating your money, but I also ask that we all try to donate some time at one point in our lives. A month can make a huge difference. If you feel like you can't give any of your time or you just don't want to go to a developing country, there's nothing wrong with that.

If money is all you feel that you can give, then spread the love. Give to grassroots NGOs (like Peace For All International) that are trying to support volunteers who are leaving the comforts of Canada to help out. Give your money to organizations throughout the year that are trying to build a country through developmental assistance (like Journalists for Human Rights). And I hope this isn't a surprise but there are organizations and campus clubs (like Future of Africa) that are trying to help out the local community while they learn about international needs.

Essentially, give what you can (whether it's money, time or prayers). But please don't forget that many countries are still in need even if they haven't been struck by a natural disaster. And as much as I love the media, newspapers, online media and news broadcasts are still trying to sell their products. Just because a country isn't on the front page of the Toronto Star or the Globe and Mail with a "shocking photo", doesn't mean they aren't in need.

If you have donated to a Haiti relief fund, all I ask is that throughout the year, you think about how good it felt. Next, learn about a new organization and donate your Starbucks money to it.