How To Help
From A Mass Email
Here is a short list of relief and development agencies that I know well and
recommend.
Oxfam America and Oxfam UK. International NGOs working in several of the
affected countries. Oxfam UK has had a field office in eastern Sri Lanka for
many
years. You can contribute on-line at www.Oxfam.org.uk. If you wish a US tax
deduction, contribute to Oxfam America at www.oxfamamerica.org.
Doctors Without Borders. International NGO working in Indonesia and may
extend
operations to other countries. You can contribute on-line at www.msf.org/
Sarvodaya. Sri Lankan NGO with a vast network in the affected communities.
We
have just set up an internet site for donations. Go to www.sarvodaya.org. Of
all Sri
Lankan organizations, I highly recommend Sarvodaya.
Mennonite Central Committee. US NGO working in Sri Lanka. You can contribute
on-line at www.mcc.org/
Other reputable organizations include CARE and Catholic Relief Services.
Five Questions to Ask Before you Give
Here are five simple questions to ask any aid organization before you give.
Since
aid agencies are inundated with phone calls, I have included above a much
abbreviated list of organizations that I trust.
1. Has the organization worked in the affected countries before? Hundreds of
organizations in the US collect funds after major disasters. Many do not
have the
on-the-ground experience that is critical for timely and wise utilization of
the funds.
Many show up in devastated nations and are not familiar with local
organizations,
customs or terrain. They will flounder. The best organizations to which to
contribute are those who were operational in the country before the disaster.
The
exception to this would be specialized organizations like Doctors Without
Borders.
2. Will the organization merely contribute your funds to another aid group?
Constituencies often contribute funds through their own channels which
collect and
transfer the funds to operational organizations. If you use such channels,
be sure
that no overheads are deducted for such pass-through grants. Overheads are
legitimate when an organization is directly involved in fielding staff or
materials.
3. Will the organization stay in the affected country after the emergency
period?
Believe it or not, most private aid organizations leave about the same time
the
cameras do. The emergency period is short, but the period for reconstruction
is
very long and much more costly. It will be years before the millions of
people made
homeless will be housed decently and their communities and livelihoods made
whole again.
4. What experience does your organization have in development? Many
organizations can provide building materials. But the aim is not to rebuild
poverty,
but to work with local communities to attain a higher standard of living.
Expatriate
organizations need to be able to work with local government and communities
alike, speak their languages, understand their cultures, and patiently help
them
plan. The best organizations to which to contribute are those with an
understanding of the causes of vulnerability and poverty.
5. Will your organization permit you to earmark your contribution? No matter
how
small your contribution may be, it is important that you earmark it for
long-term
development in the affected communities of one or more of the countries.
Despite
what they say now about the need, the capacity of local institutions to
absorb all aid
funds quickly is quite limited. Earmarking encourages the aid organization
to
begin now to make long-range plans. It also lets the organization know that
you
prefer that your funds are wisely spent over a longer period than hastily
spent on
efforts that may be duplicating those of others.
--
Here is a short list of relief and development agencies that I know well and
recommend.
Oxfam America and Oxfam UK. International NGOs working in several of the
affected countries. Oxfam UK has had a field office in eastern Sri Lanka for
many
years. You can contribute on-line at www.Oxfam.org.uk. If you wish a US tax
deduction, contribute to Oxfam America at www.oxfamamerica.org.
Doctors Without Borders. International NGO working in Indonesia and may
extend
operations to other countries. You can contribute on-line at www.msf.org/
Sarvodaya. Sri Lankan NGO with a vast network in the affected communities.
We
have just set up an internet site for donations. Go to www.sarvodaya.org. Of
all Sri
Lankan organizations, I highly recommend Sarvodaya.
Mennonite Central Committee. US NGO working in Sri Lanka. You can contribute
on-line at www.mcc.org/
Other reputable organizations include CARE and Catholic Relief Services.
Five Questions to Ask Before you Give
Here are five simple questions to ask any aid organization before you give.
Since
aid agencies are inundated with phone calls, I have included above a much
abbreviated list of organizations that I trust.
1. Has the organization worked in the affected countries before? Hundreds of
organizations in the US collect funds after major disasters. Many do not
have the
on-the-ground experience that is critical for timely and wise utilization of
the funds.
Many show up in devastated nations and are not familiar with local
organizations,
customs or terrain. They will flounder. The best organizations to which to
contribute are those who were operational in the country before the disaster.
The
exception to this would be specialized organizations like Doctors Without
Borders.
2. Will the organization merely contribute your funds to another aid group?
Constituencies often contribute funds through their own channels which
collect and
transfer the funds to operational organizations. If you use such channels,
be sure
that no overheads are deducted for such pass-through grants. Overheads are
legitimate when an organization is directly involved in fielding staff or
materials.
3. Will the organization stay in the affected country after the emergency
period?
Believe it or not, most private aid organizations leave about the same time
the
cameras do. The emergency period is short, but the period for reconstruction
is
very long and much more costly. It will be years before the millions of
people made
homeless will be housed decently and their communities and livelihoods made
whole again.
4. What experience does your organization have in development? Many
organizations can provide building materials. But the aim is not to rebuild
poverty,
but to work with local communities to attain a higher standard of living.
Expatriate
organizations need to be able to work with local government and communities
alike, speak their languages, understand their cultures, and patiently help
them
plan. The best organizations to which to contribute are those with an
understanding of the causes of vulnerability and poverty.
5. Will your organization permit you to earmark your contribution? No matter
how
small your contribution may be, it is important that you earmark it for
long-term
development in the affected communities of one or more of the countries.
Despite
what they say now about the need, the capacity of local institutions to
absorb all aid
funds quickly is quite limited. Earmarking encourages the aid organization
to
begin now to make long-range plans. It also lets the organization know that
you
prefer that your funds are wisely spent over a longer period than hastily
spent on
efforts that may be duplicating those of others.
--
posted by Captain Caseous at 8:11 p.m.
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