Response to World Vision Vloggers

The Good News: you can donate to World Vision and give specific things, like

School Supplies: http://bit.ly/WVschoolsupplies
Clean Water: http://bit.ly/WVtubewell
Medical Supplies: http://bit.ly/WVmedicine
Chickens: http://bit.ly/WVchickens
Food: http://bit.ly/WVfood

The Bad News: You may never know where it's spent or who it helps.

Hopefully this is something that can change.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• World
• Vision
• Vloggers
• WVV
• #WVV
• Nerimon
• Nanalew
• Frezned
• Africa
• Zambia
• World Vision
• World Vision Vlogger
• World Vision Vloggers
• worldvision
• worldvisionvloggers
• poverty
• charity

[darklight270]

Also I just want to say that despite any criticism I have for aid organizations, I still think they are amazing things and can accomplish work on the ground level. I mean a world with World Vision and some overhead is better then a world without World Vision at all. Though a world with aid organizations dominated by things like Charity water would be even better.

[thestudent]

@darklight270 Well said - I agree: the world is a better place because of World Vision.

I think they could gain even more support and even more loyalty if they moved in the direction I've been talking about. They've already taken the first step to do so.

[psychomagic35]

Last though - given to a disabled charity before? Do you ask to GPS track a disabled child to know where your money has gone. Make a donation because you want to help not because of what you get out of it. Whether thats World Vision, Charity Water, Oxfam, Salvation Army, United Way or someone else. I don't need a welcome party or GPS to feel good about myself doing what I can

[thestudent]

@psychomagic35 Again, I responded to your comment previously. This isn't about feeling good about yourself. Honestly, people can feel good about themselves even without this feedback.

But, and I can attest for this first hand, showing where the money goes actually encourages future donations. And this, ultimately, means more people helped.

And, again, from my first hand experience - the "welcome parties" aren't for the benefit of the donors. It's an on-the-ground community-uniting celebration

[thestudent]

@psychomagic35 I can't stress enough that this isn't about feeling good about yourself. I think, especially given all the problems there are out there (corrupt official giving charities a hard time for bribes, etc). Supporters like the idea of confirmation that their donation has reach their intended target.

And, again, as someone working on the ground - beneficiaries actually love knowing who made this happen (instead of it being anonymous assistance from an NGO).

[psychomagic35]

Also isn't it about people in need not what we get out if it. If you want the glory of your name on a sign -great. If you want to feel good about helping those in need I know $100m goes further than $5m and helps more people more effectively and more often.

[thestudent]

@psychomagic35 Again, not true - and I speak as someone whose been doing work on the ground.

I've found both donors (and most importantly) BENEFICIARIES like knowing where the money came from and where it went. This has nothing to do about glory and everything to do with accountability and (for beneficiaries) making it more than an anonymous disconnected handout.

[UnculturedProject]

@levimcgrathmusic In fact, this video is not based on my POV as a donor, but rather my POV based on being ethnically from a country in which World Vision serves. It makes me sad to see many people in my mother's home village distrust or have bad things to say about World Vision. I believe this, in part, is due to 1) the majority of the town is Muslim and WV hires mostly Christians, and 2) villagers have different attitudes on overhead. Thinking deeper means thinking less ethnocentrically mate.

[UnculturedProject]

@levimcgrathmusic Also, in the interest of transparency, I should also point out that World Vision in the United States went to court for the right only to hire and work with Christians. I know this is not the case in Australia, but needless to say, it is far easier for someone like you (presumably Christian) to go out into the field with World Vision than it is for someone like me with the last name "Ahmed".

[UnculturedProject]

@levimcgrathmusic Hi Levi, I don't want to debate you too much because I do like World Vision and think they are doing a lot of great things. I should also point out that different national branches of World Vision (e.g. WV Australia, WV Canada, etc) operate on different principles. In your country, when you go to their website to donate to sponsor a well... a well may not actually be built. Rather money goes to a fund which may or may not be used to build a well. This was told to me by WV staff

[levimcgrathmusic]

Hi Shawn, I partner with World Vision and have visited many of their projects in the field. I'm not sure what you're saying mate and just to give you some facts..... You can visit a building or a well if you sponsor it. You can visit your sponsor child in person and tour their village. World Vision recently took an award for transparency and auditing. Charity water sell water and that is why they can afford to give 100% of donations to the building of a well for example. Think deeper ppl.

[norbaclove]

I have to agree with you, Shawn. This is not about feeling good about yourself, but I experienced that many people who want to donate are hesitant, because they don't know where the money is going. I get that a lot when I talk to my friends about charity. They say "Don't bother, your money is never going to reach the ones you wanted to help". And charities won't leave this corruption stigmata behind if they don't learn to engage more with their donors.

[ollininvincible]

Oi. So much world to help and so little time to comment. Keep it up Shawn!

[jdsfblaggf]

this video made me cry. its beautiful:)

[shakes1327]

I've always found the popularity of World Vision's specific donations interesting. I know a lot of my friends and family love the idea of knowing exactly what they're buying. I wonder, though, whether the appeal is in the novelty of being able to buy chickens, or if it's due to a genuine interest in being more involved in the process.

[choro1981]

Wow $25 for 2 chickens when you can get them at a Pet supply store and pay $2-3.00 for a baby chick, does it take the rest of this money to ship these chicken to that person. Don't want to be a DICK but $25 for 2 chickens. Peace