Page 5 | To think this is tone deaf and a dreadful use of charitable money?

fuckthisprivilage · 2023-06-17T16:14:37+00:00

I live in a very affluent area where most kids are at independent schools. We have a local WhatsApp group and a teenager has posted offering to do odd jobs to earn money (several thousand pounds) towards paying for a school trip - a month long holiday to an amazing destination under the guise of doing "community work". Now personally I hate this kind of western saviour type shit but whatever, and there is nothing wrong with the kid offering to take on odd jobs to help fund --a tiny fraction of-- it. What's really boiled my piss is that some trustees of a local charity have now responded and encouraged him to apply for funding from them. WTF?!!! In what world should a charity be sponsoring a privileged child from a hugely privileged background to take a month long holiday that will cost five figures, in the middle of a COL crisis that is seeing families using food banks and kids that will literally NEVER experience even a week by the seaside during their entire childhoods? Surely it should be the responsibility of the parents to pay for this hugely indulgent experience, not a bloody charity?

Usertumster · 17/06/2023 21:17

I’m not reading any more. I really dislike chippiness. Lazy stereotypes and reverse snobbery do not help anyone.

Comedycook · 17/06/2023 21:18

A lot of orphanages abroad are a total scam...most of the children have at least one parent alive. Its absolutely disgusting.

SweetSakura · 17/06/2023 21:19

Comedycook · 17/06/2023 21:04

You find these privileged hooray henry types from the home counties only want to meet different communities in developing countries. Back her in the UK, they stick firmly to their own types.

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Quite, as an incredibly sheltered middle class teen (my childhood was "all riding lessons and Laura Ashley" as a friend so neatly described it) my eyes were very much opened by 6 months working for the benefits agency as part of my gap year.... But most of my social group were horrified I wasn't galloping off to Guatemala to paint a school or whatever.

(Medical and other reasons kept me in Europe)

Usertumster · 17/06/2023 21:19

@AlexandriasWindmill 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:27

The only good thing about threads like this is they make absolutely no difference. People who complain will continue to complain - from their little bubbles - offering precisely zero help to their community, local charities or communities overseas. But they can pretend that being selfish and lazy and bigoted are somehow 'worthy' attributes.
Meanwhile, people who believe in global responsibility, in helping local communities and in charity, will continue to put in the effort and make the changes that actually do benefit people's lives.
It's a bit like the 'what did you do in the war?' meme. What did you do when wealth disparity was growing? When governments and corporations were pushing for communities to be more divided and for individuals to be as selfish as possible? 'Oh, I complained on the internet about local charities and international ones too'. Yeah, that's not the epitaph I'd want.

Comedycook · 17/06/2023 21:30

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:27

The only good thing about threads like this is they make absolutely no difference. People who complain will continue to complain - from their little bubbles - offering precisely zero help to their community, local charities or communities overseas. But they can pretend that being selfish and lazy and bigoted are somehow 'worthy' attributes.
Meanwhile, people who believe in global responsibility, in helping local communities and in charity, will continue to put in the effort and make the changes that actually do benefit people's lives.
It's a bit like the 'what did you do in the war?' meme. What did you do when wealth disparity was growing? When governments and corporations were pushing for communities to be more divided and for individuals to be as selfish as possible? 'Oh, I complained on the internet about local charities and international ones too'. Yeah, that's not the epitaph I'd want.

Please tell me what skills a privately educated, middle class teen from the UK can offer to a developing nation?

SweetSakura · 17/06/2023 21:31

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:27

The only good thing about threads like this is they make absolutely no difference. People who complain will continue to complain - from their little bubbles - offering precisely zero help to their community, local charities or communities overseas. But they can pretend that being selfish and lazy and bigoted are somehow 'worthy' attributes.
Meanwhile, people who believe in global responsibility, in helping local communities and in charity, will continue to put in the effort and make the changes that actually do benefit people's lives.
It's a bit like the 'what did you do in the war?' meme. What did you do when wealth disparity was growing? When governments and corporations were pushing for communities to be more divided and for individuals to be as selfish as possible? 'Oh, I complained on the internet about local charities and international ones too'. Yeah, that's not the epitaph I'd want.

What utter nonsense.

In my experience the people who are cycnical about this kind of voluntourism are the very people who give the most back to the world through their jobs or (meaningful) voluntary work or being very thoughtful about where they donate their money

Comedycook · 17/06/2023 21:33

Agree @SweetSakura

Comedycook · 17/06/2023 21:35

These teens on gap years don't give a shit about global responsibility. Its a jolly up that looks good on their CV as they pursue a career in finance usually.

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:42

Please do spend your night complaining on the internet whilst stereotyping working class, middle class and upper class people; local charities; international charities and groups working overseas. That's definitely a very worthwhile use of your time. And will absolutely help your local community, combat inequality and wealth disparity, and create community cohesion ... oh, no, wait.
Meanwhile, in RL, the people making a difference will continue to do so.

SweetSakura · 17/06/2023 21:45

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:42

Please do spend your night complaining on the internet whilst stereotyping working class, middle class and upper class people; local charities; international charities and groups working overseas. That's definitely a very worthwhile use of your time. And will absolutely help your local community, combat inequality and wealth disparity, and create community cohesion ... oh, no, wait.
Meanwhile, in RL, the people making a difference will continue to do so.

You have no idea how anyone on here spends their real life. My actual job is very much a "making a difference job" and I also volunteer with two charities (using my professional skills) and make ample donations to others..HTH.

Talia99 · 17/06/2023 21:53

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:42

Please do spend your night complaining on the internet whilst stereotyping working class, middle class and upper class people; local charities; international charities and groups working overseas. That's definitely a very worthwhile use of your time. And will absolutely help your local community, combat inequality and wealth disparity, and create community cohesion ... oh, no, wait.
Meanwhile, in RL, the people making a difference will continue to do so.

And the people exploiting third world countries for cash with the naive assistance of people (often young and privileged since these trips aren’t cheap) with a white saviour complex will also continue to do so.

I’ve posted multiple links in which experts explain why the voluntourist industry is not a good thing. I’m not sure why you are conflating these commercial companies with charities. Nobody else is. They aren’t. That’s the point.

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 22:37

'third world countries' - really? Your lack of knowledge and interest in international development is shown once again. If you are going to position yourself as some sort of 'saviour' (who knows better than the local communities overseas who work with charities and knows better than OP's local charity about how their funding is ring-fenced etc) then it might be an idea not to use outdated and offensive terms.

Fizbosshoes · 17/06/2023 22:46

I just looked up an example of the type of trip kids in our area go on. It's about 3 weeks and I think about 5 days is spent doing conservation/community/charity work, the rest is a safari, trekking, snorkeling and other activities (aka a holiday). I'd still stand by the claim that the person who benefits most is the teen - rather than the animals/communities/children than they're helping.

cadink · 17/06/2023 23:21

Take it up with the charity- they sound very unself aware

Talia99 · 17/06/2023 23:23

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 22:37

'third world countries' - really? Your lack of knowledge and interest in international development is shown once again. If you are going to position yourself as some sort of 'saviour' (who knows better than the local communities overseas who work with charities and knows better than OP's local charity about how their funding is ring-fenced etc) then it might be an idea not to use outdated and offensive terms.

You’re right. My field of interest is con artists and scammers. If you can’t see that that’s exactly what these commercial companies are, then I’m fairly sure you know nothing about proper financial governance. If you genuinely think these companies have anything to do with charity then you shouldn’t be anywhere near distributing charitable funds because you simply aren’t competent to properly assess the people seeking funding.

Talia99 · 17/06/2023 23:27

Also, can you please clarify what in the reports I linked above (which are based on information from qualified experts in the field ) is wrong?

I don’t have to be an expert myself to respect the knowledge of people who are. Can you please clarify your qualifications / research / expertise that overrides what I have posted?

WasabiWinner · 17/06/2023 23:37

Hippyhippybake · 17/06/2023 21:04

I am the trustee of a local village charity with £1000 to give away every year for any educational related purpose for anyone under 25. The purpose can be for anything from a new laptop to travel and textbook expenses etc.

Every single year for the last decade we have advertised the grant on social media, the local newsletter and the village fete. Every year we get zero responses. The only way we can give the money away is to actually approach people directly and offer it to them. Our neighbour’s daughter (single mother who works as a cleaner) had it three years in a row after I directly approached her each and every time. I notice that her younger brother hasn’t bothered to apply in the past two years despite being eligible.

I gather from speaking to other trustees of similar charities that our experience is par for the course so sorry, I think you are being unreasonable.

I can't believe that nobody wants £1000 for a new laptop.
Perhaps, if your village is affluent, people feel guilty about applying, because they feel that others deserve it more?
Nobody knows that there is actually no take-up?
Maybe offer the ability to apply as a 'lottery prize' and people wil enter.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2023 00:06

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 21:27

The only good thing about threads like this is they make absolutely no difference. People who complain will continue to complain - from their little bubbles - offering precisely zero help to their community, local charities or communities overseas. But they can pretend that being selfish and lazy and bigoted are somehow 'worthy' attributes.
Meanwhile, people who believe in global responsibility, in helping local communities and in charity, will continue to put in the effort and make the changes that actually do benefit people's lives.
It's a bit like the 'what did you do in the war?' meme. What did you do when wealth disparity was growing? When governments and corporations were pushing for communities to be more divided and for individuals to be as selfish as possible? 'Oh, I complained on the internet about local charities and international ones too'. Yeah, that's not the epitaph I'd want.

I've spent my whole life working for non-profits and SS departments. In more than one country BTW.

As @Talia99 said, we aren't talking about people who put months or years in, train, learn the language, give something meaningful.

It's the 6 week jollies which they pay thousands to a company for and which contribute nothing, at best nothing. Sometimes worse.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2023 00:09

AlexandriasWindmill · 17/06/2023 22:37

'third world countries' - really? Your lack of knowledge and interest in international development is shown once again. If you are going to position yourself as some sort of 'saviour' (who knows better than the local communities overseas who work with charities and knows better than OP's local charity about how their funding is ring-fenced etc) then it might be an idea not to use outdated and offensive terms.

I called them 'majority world countries' and I believe once 'global south'. Does that mean I get to have an opinion, oh wise one?

Talia99 · 18/06/2023 00:13

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2023 00:09

I called them 'majority world countries' and I believe once 'global south'. Does that mean I get to have an opinion, oh wise one?

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In regard to this, I apologise for using the term. I hadn’t realised it is no longer appropriate and I will make sure not to use it again. However, I note that the substance of my comment was completely ignored in order to nitpick my language. My view on the exploitation of global south countries by these companies hasn’t changed. Perhaps @AlexandriasWindmill could comment on that, too?

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2023 00:18

@Talia99 it's just a classic way to have a go at you without addressing the actual fact of the racism. TBF I always call global south countries 'the majority world' but it mostly gets completely blank stares, whereas although 'Third World' isn't great, everyone does understand what you mean. Better than the horribly offensive word PP used!

On another point, Uganda, mentioned above, is literally the most beautiful country I have ever been to. It's incredible, we met the loveliest people, had a great time and managed to travel independently so our money went to people in the country. I thoroughly recommend it.

SweetSakura · 18/06/2023 00:18

Talia99 · 18/06/2023 00:13

In regard to this, I apologise for using the term. I hadn’t realised it is no longer appropriate and I will make sure not to use it again. However, I note that the substance of my comment was completely ignored in order to nitpick my language. My view on the exploitation of global south countries by these companies hasn’t changed. Perhaps @AlexandriasWindmill could comment on that, too?

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I don't think you need to apologise, it's semantics at the end of the day. There are bigger issues at play here.

SueVineer · 18/06/2023 00:25

Lots of charities provide benefits for people who are wealthy. Private schools being an example.

I do think some of the wildlife charities are useful- the funds the young volunteers raise pay for a lot of the project and there is unskilled work to be done.

SueVineer · 18/06/2023 00:30

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/06/2023 00:06

I've spent my whole life working for non-profits and SS departments. In more than one country BTW.

As @Talia99 said, we aren't talking about people who put months or years in, train, learn the language, give something meaningful.

It's the 6 week jollies which they pay thousands to a company for and which contribute nothing, at best nothing. Sometimes worse.

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You have no idea what the boy is planning to do or who it will benefit. Lots of reputable charities raise awareness and funds with these types of projects. I bet you’ve read some guardian article about a rogue operation and now decided all projects are bad. Pure daftie.