Story 1
A revolutionary way of running a charity is being trialled by the Not-for-profit 'Give Directly' (link).
The experiment aims to go against the existing logic of charity and it is compared to the work done by Heifer International (link).
Give Directly is based on a three-pronged approach of efficiency, transparency and respect and, true to its name, the name the charity aims to give funds directly to those most in need.
At its most basic, the process entails:
- Money is donated through the charity's webpage.
- A poor household is located in Kenya.
- Donation is transferred electronically to the recipient's phone.
- Recipient uses funds transfer to pursue his or her own ambitions.
The main aim of the program is to cut out unnecessary red tape and administrative costs and to put money in the hands of those most in need - at the crux of the scheme is the empowerment of the individual.
The approach is not without its critics with some eyebrows raised over a lack of accountability about how money is spent, the sustainability of cash-in-hand charity and the potential for conflict between recipients and non-recipients.
Whilst the scheme is not without its faults the results so far are overwhelmingly positive (see here: link) with the flexibility of the program seen as the key pillar. If anything, this type of approach has forced people to reconsider what works and what does not work in the provision of relief by charities.
THE GOOD NEWS
Story 2
Opening two sister cafes in Melbourne and Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, doesn't seem like an idea that would be taught in Business 101 but don't tell that to the not-for-profit entity "Connecting Hands".
"Connecting Hands" link) is an Australian based charity which aims to give a second shot at life for women and children who have been sold and trafficked into sex slavery in Cambodia.
The idea of opening the sister café's is in its early stages of development and aims to provide women with the skills required in the hospitality industry (see here: link).
Whilst the Cambodian venture is to provide practical training for recently rehabilitated women, the café in Melbourne is designed to financially support the Cambodian cafe in an accountable and transparent manner.
Connecting Hands is inspired by a true story of a Cambodian sex slave and hopes to see the abolition of modern day trafficking and slavery.
With statistics suggesting that 43% of human trafficking victims are trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation, and 98% of them are women or girls, the need for increased charity work in this area is clearly urgent and overdue.
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