It’s a question that most privileged Westerners ask themselves from time to time – usually when disaster strikes or the plight of impoverished people is brought to our attention. Whether that be through a successful advertising campaign or the world news, if the difficulties or poverty that others experience play on your conscience, the question ‘what can I do to help?’ can be a common one. It’s easy to see these problems as insurmountable, but even easier is to take small steps to help alleviate and address them. There are things that everyday people living ordinary lives can do to help that will make a big difference. If you’ve been asking yourself what that is, here are a few ideas.
- Donate money. It’s simple, easy and can be as little or as much money as you want to – or can afford – to give. Most NGO’s or charities rely heavily on charity donations, so while it may seem an impersonal way to give aid, it is an essential and important element of tackling important issues.
- Sponsor a child. The statistics and figures of child poverty are shocking, with millions of children continuing to live in impoverished conditions. Sponsor a child programs involve a monthly donation – which usually comes to just over a dollar a day – that goes towards the improvement of an impoverished child’s life. There are a number of organisations, such as Action Aid that run child sponsorship programs that will significantly improve a child’s access to education, health, sanitation, food and housing quality.
- Volunteer your time and skills. If a monetary donation is not possible or you want your help to be more active and involved, then volunteer your time or your skills. Charitable organisations rely on volunteers to work for them for no payment, and you will be particularly useful if you can offer skills (such as accounting, PR or marketing) that they would otherwise have to pay for.
- Voluntourism. Next time you plan a holiday, why not try voluntourism instead? It’s the bringing together of volunteering with tourism to create an aid-giving, hands-on and feel-good holiday combo. And while they’re nothing new, voluntourism of today offers shorter bouts of volunteering opportunities intermixed with sightseeing or other travel or tourism experiences. It’s a great way to give your time and help while enjoying your holiday at the same time.
For those living in the comfort, peace and safety of the Western world, it’s often hard to imagine how you can make a difference to nations and people plagued by poverty, disease and violence. Poverty statistics are disheartening, but the issue is not insurmountable. There are a number of things that ordinary, willing people can do to help – every donation, action and kind act counts.
Bio What will you do to help? Whether you donate your money, your time or sponsor a child there are a number of ways that ordinary people can help alleviate the plight of the world’s underprivileged citizens.