l gave an awful feeling

Does anyone remember being at school, in the mid 1950s, being given a little book of photographs of little African children? Each page could be torn out and "sold" to friends and family for 1 penny. All proceeds were to go to help those little children, and their communities, to have clean drinking water, schools and electricity. I remember that the scheme was certainly still in operation into the late 1960s. Since then, there have many, many such charities, all with the same aim of bringing a better life to those most desperately in need. Millions of pounds have been raised in the past 60 years. It hasn't been a lack of interest or commitment from the British public so what happens to the vast amounts of money raised? Millions of pounds were raised globally for the people affected by the tsunami in Thailand in 2004. But many of those people are still living in shanty towns, never having seen any benefits from the donations made on their behalf. Everyone wants to give to those in need, but I can well understand a degree of wariness creeping in when it appears that well intentioned donations appear to be siphoned off who knows where.

I am totally confused over the aid needed for Somali, Suden and Yemen. I went on the ITV news website and read a report by the reporter out there. He was saying that the place they collected the stuff had been raided and all the stuff taken. I do feel for them but don't want to give to feed the fighters who are depriving these poor children. I don't know what to do.

The more you feed the more they breed. At least if you give to an animal charity it is more than likely the animals have been castrated.

That is so very harsh but sadly very true?

I suppose I must be thick but the heads of state of these countries what do they do with the money? I remember live aid and how shocking that was but no poor countries seem to be able to help there own people. I know it's to do with famine and wars in some cases but if they are given money by other countries and the public. Where is it going then, no changes in any of these poor countries as far as I can see.

Radicalnan and handmadedogsweaters---I so agree with what you say. Humans have the intelligence to choose whether to have children, whereas animals don't. I prefer to support a charity like SendACow which teaches people how to become self sufficient in food and then pass on their knowledge to others who need it. If they are given a cow, for instance, they then pass on the firstborn heifer calf to another needy family. I can see that all this money that's being raised will line the pockets of the corrupt or end up supporting the terrorist groups.

Handmadedogsweaters , the politest thing I can say is, if you have nothing but ignorance to add please don't comment at all, have you ever read/heard the saying
' There but for the grace of god go I' please think your self lucky to be able to feed yourself & dogs ?

I also agree with Margrete. We donate money reasonably regularly to various charities, but recently we decided that we would restrict our donations in future to the many worthwhile (in our opinion) charities at home and some natural disasters. We completely respect the choices of others, but we feel we want to support the guide dog association, local hospice, various children's charities, and charities supporting research into various conditions/illnesses as we have lost friend s and relations to cancer/heart disease etc. We also support animal charities. We are not heartless as maybe some will say, just fed up with seeing the same situations reported throughout our lives (I too remember the appeal for Biafra) with no improvement, doubtless for a multitude of reasons. We are also not happy with the amount of money wasted by management, particularly in the bigger charities, plus the amount of money that disappears, remember how much disappeared after the tsunami a few years ago. So I say, to each his own, donate to whichever charity you want to, and respect the choices of others.

Agee with some of what you say Maddy. But still think Handmade is right out of order, Nobody chooses who they are or where they are born etc no easy answers , but the very least we with homes & full bellies can do is shut up if you have nothing useful to say or do shameful ☹️

It's not shameful to say what you think.

handmadedogsweaters has a right to voice her opinion. whether you agree with it or not, norose4.

Not shameful to say it, but shameful to think it, worse still believe it! . And I did not say she doesnt have a right to say what she thinks , merely that I think it is shameful !

It's six years today since the Syrian revolution started.
This is from one of the last doctors in Aleppo.

"As some of you may know today marks the 6th anniversary of the Syrian revolution - when Syrian civilians took to the streets to demand their basic rights. The violence that followed has torn my home apart. Aleppo is in ruins, thousands have been killed, and millions of innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes across the country, escaping a military campaign whose purpose has been to maximize the suffering of the innocent.

Aleppo was not the end. It is no wonder that, despite the supposed ceasefire, schools and hospitals continue to be struck with impunity, while besieged communities face desperate shortages in food, medicine and other essential supplies. War crimes continue in places like Wadi Barada and Al Waer where citizens were forced from their homes after months of siege. In Harasta, civilians continue to be targeted with chemical weapons.

But now is not the moment to look away. The attention of European publics has been essential in preventing even more violent and cruel abuses. Your vigilance is vital still. My friends at the withSyria campaign have made a short video highlighting the defining moments of the past 6 years. I hope you will share “Syria, 6 years on – Are you still watching?” and remind your fellow citizens that their support is still needed, and not to let their leaders look away:
bit.ly/2mruLNF "

The report is on www.change.org

Brilliant contribution Durhamjen , thank you for posting factual details that we all should read.

PS. Obviously a different situation but with the same need for compassion ,

There is nothing wrong with having our favourite and personal charities.
My first GC was born with an horrendous cleft lip and palate and at the age of18 is still undergoing surgery. This is all free, sheduled and on the NHS. So my main and monthly donation goes to Smile Train which I have researched and provides surgery to children worldwide whose lives would be so hard with being shunned by community and relying on begging for an existence.
This does not mean I can't recognise that some situations like famine need our support and I fervently hope that our donations reach the people who desperately need them.

? well said Annsixty

Some posters seem to think that all people on earth are living in modern cities/towns with equal opportunities, not that in some areas there is famine because the crops/rains have failed; that family planning options are not available to all; that education is not a priority in the budget of each country and that where there is war, that the aid is taken by the warring factions is not the fault of the starving.

Life is not equal in all countries or even within countries. When we see the image of a little child with little arms like sticks and his eyes huge in his shrunken face, his belly swollen as is the case with starving people we should surely acknowledge that he did not deserve such an existence on the earth.

We're not born equal and we should be very thankful that our children and grandchildren have NEVER had to face such hardship. Hence many of us make contributions to help make their lives better.

Very well put Ginnny 42, thank you .I get so disheartened at the ignorance & lack of compassion of some people. I just don't get that they don't seem to understand we are all an accident of birth & seem incapable of understanding the saying ' walking a mile in my shoes ,before you criticise & abuse. 'I know the problems will never be properly solved no matter what the causes ' which is why I get so passionate & upset by the lack of understanding of some.I feel the very least we can do is to be grateful that we are not in the terrible position of those poor starving souls .

the comments regarding contraception and family planning within vulnerable families are why I never lauded the sainted Mother Theresa and her work in Calcutta. She was part of the problem as a representative of devout Catholicism which would not permit access to contraception for the poor families that she made such a show out of helping. Stunning hypocrisy to my mind.

Ohh forgot to say thanks Morgan's for raising this thread, I think it is both of the reasons you have mentioned, but there seems to have been a new wave of fundraising awareness which at least keeps the focus going. Let's just hope that some help gets through .

sorry meant Morgana?

Absolutely agree GillT57, hard to believe the arrogance of her actions . I never could understand the glory of suffering, those that do, don't seem to be the ones who are suffering !!!

Annesixty+ I didn't mention this charity called 'HELP in Germany but we have a very active group nearby. The main problem is Rumania and other nearby mountinous regions and an operation costs about 350 Euros and lots of families try to afford one operation themselves. Giving like that is very rewarding.

If only we could have that feeling about other donations

I think Africa should be seen as separate countries, not as a block.
I only know things about two of them, but they are quite different to each other.
[I know very little about Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.]

mcem. You are one heartless person.