It is nice to know that there are many charitable people in SHC. I hope the spirit of giving will continue because it is fun and you get a sense of peace. Singaporeans in general are alway quick to give money to international disaster relieves and whenever there is a hard-luck storey in our local newspapers. Many people are happy to give to baggers and monks in our streets, even when street bagging is illigal here.
But very often I observe major confusion with giving for charity and trading for better returns. When we give to charity, by definition, it should be a one way traffic with no personal returns other than…feel good.
Many years ago, my wife literally picked up a dirty old man living in Pulau Ubin. The man was about 80 years old with totally no income. He lives in an abandoned and delapidated school building. The village people give him free food regularly but he has no toilet facilities and walking is difficult for him, so he does not clean himself and defecate near where he sleeps. With the help of a few volunteers, the man was cleaned and eventually put in an old folks home. He had $800 ‘coffin money’ which he carefully guarded. The money was passed over for safekeeping to the Old folks Home Administrator. We visited him regularly, but as he gets older and becomes senile, he starts scolding us and accuse us of stealing his money each time we visited. The adminterator always laugh it off but I was young and felt indignant. Eventually we stop visiting the man.
Now, that I am older and becoming senile myself I come to realize that I was not really charible because I had actually expected gratitude in return. If I was really giving for charity, I should not have been affected by his scolding and continue to give……like the Administrator do.
When we give and hope to go to be honoured or go to heaven or gain merit points for better rebirth, is it charity or trading?
I recently made a tedious detour from my trip in Northern Thailand to see if I can help an orphanage started by a Singaporean. About 100 meters before the village there was eracted a huge religious icon announceing the village and its orphanage. When I reached the village there were even more religious icons everywhere but I see no children in the orphanage. We ask the few people people around and they say ‘sometimes there are children’. It is obvious that the Singaporean has been very successful in propagating his religion but I did not see the same level of emphasis in looking after disadvantaged children.
Again, is this charity or has charity been used to spread religion?
It is always a big concern now whenever we give, whether we had made the sacrific to the correct cause and whether the money has gone to the correct people. But we must also ask ourself if we have done the sacrifice in good faith or just trading.
Let’s hear you views.
Hi Tian Soo No: (1),
as there is another Tian Soo No; 2 ,
Thanks for opening up this interesting post.
This reminds me of an incident in KL. I was walking towards the Petronas Twin towers when I met a monk and a nun. The nun “push” to me a small “amulet’ and later ask me for donation for a Chinese temple to be built in China. She even show me a drawing of the so called existent ? temple.
She was NOT happy when I gave her MR2 and she quickly brought out an account book to show me that the minimun donation by others were at least MR10.
I reluctantly gave her MR 10 as I strongly felt that donation to any charity should be voluntarily and cannot be fixed by anyone.
I told myself if they were to ‘cheat’ me in the name of G_d , they will suffer a bad karma when they are reborned.
True enough, when I returned home and told my sister of this nun and she insisted on $10 donation , she told me that I had been “conned” .
She further told me that Buddhist monks or nuns CANNOT ask for donation in public.However, they can be offered FOOD only NOT cash.
The public can donate as much as they wish in the charity boxes placed inside the temple.( AUTHORISED )
And now, I am wary of these imposter nuns and monks from Thailand / Myanmar that dressed in white robe,bunned hair and likes to ply Chinatown or Bedok etc. for donation.
Once in a while, the police caught them and had them repatriated but after sometime there are more of these imposters coming to Spore because Sporeans are generous in their giving . However, the money so called donated to charity goes to their own pockets.
After what happens to the NKF scandal and the Chinese
Ren Ci Hospital monk who misappropriated money from donation into his own pocket , I am now extremely wary of donating to charity.
The S.T.newspps reported that generous Sporeans had donated millions of dollars generously during the Great Tsunami.
However, some of the corrupted Indonesian officals has taken a large portion of the donation leaving little to the Tsunami Victims.
What a shame, when their victims are suffering and in dire need of help, yet these corrupted officials are overcame by GREED and “LOST” their conscience.
those of us who have been to china or usually watch chinese kungfu type movies will know that historically or otherwise in the early poorer days of china history, it started with those “performers” on streets doing some feats, banging slab of granite over their chest, etc., after their show, they will go round to collect “donations” from watchers who appreciate their skills and sympathises with them.
there were also sometimes “child performers” who were originally orphans or abandoned children, helped by the masters to be trained to perform and earn a living.
hence in some countries, it is normal for “professional beggars” to put on a show, sing a song, walk a tight rope or do a magic to get collection. the performers feel that they cannot just get money without doing anything.
So giving and receiving is necessary as this is how the poor and rich maintain that equilibrium. But the issue is whether our giving is directly benefitting the needy, effectively lifting them out of poverty or are we just funnelling through “big and official” organisations as handling agents. this is where the danger and difference is or are. The bigger the organisations, the chance of loss is bigger! Some organisations spend up to 60% of the fund on the overheads, etc.
To promote poverty alleviation, it is best to setup platforms, businesses and companies where there is good income generating activities. This will require good business sense folks(retired maybe) to go overseas and setup such opportunities for all who want to give to participate and the poor to benefit from. This option is slightly better than giving because somebody put up a show!
Just my two cents worth of opinion from years of observation.
this incident happened many years ago. i dunno if it is still happening
a friend of mine donated food like milo etc to a home as christmas presents . when he went to the home later he found dat none of the residents received any of his gifts.
upon further investigation, he found dat his gifts were in a storeroom, sorted into piles each assigned to the officers who work there !
from that day on, he always delivered the gifts into the hands of the residents
LEGS FROM RUBBISH
here are 2 links abt d abv article
the first link leads to the abv article about how the prostheses foundation(thailand) turns rubbish into legs for poor amputees
the second link is info abt the foundation itself
i wud be interested to work with any shc member(s)to collect drink cans n nylon stockings to send to the foundation. as this project is also a green project since it recycles resources, it fulfils 2 objectives.
if we do charity this way we can reduce chances of being conned of our cash(or food as in my fren’s case)
1——-http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/SE+Asia/Story/STIStory_321092.html
2——-http://www.prosthesesfoundation.or.th/eng/indexEn.htm
here’s an account by smone who received his leg from the foundation
http://www.expostfacto.co.uk/Legless.htm
Dear Tian Soo
Thanks for this meaningful topic.
Every year, a lady from a charitable organisation will call me up for donation, saying its for purchase of wheel-chair for old folks. In return, they will give me a dinner ticket to attend the function to announce names of corp donors etc which I decline. After giving for several years, I decided to stop. I cannot understand why they are spending money on lavish dinners in restaurants when the money was meant for more important purpose.
My late husband always told me and my children “when you give, dont expect anything in return or you will be very disappointed” and that when we give money to someone, we should not teach that someone how to spend it.
Yes, Esther. I agree with you about the homes run by volunteers or paid workers. I have heard of many cases where they keep the good stuff for themselves. Thats why I dont send things to the homes. If I want to give, I make sure the intended receiver gets the donation personally.
Warmest Regards
Caroline Gee
hi caroline
thks for sharing :))
Hi All,
I agree with all the comments written on this topic esp. Caroline Gee. Charity gestures should be given whole-heartedly without any expectation. Since the NKF and Ren Ci saga, I’ve decided to go personally myself to see what’s needed and pay for the stuff e.g. wheelchair or money to the association. In fact I’d like to share with all SHC members on a very neglected group, S’pore Leprosy Relief Association. This was brought to my attn when I went to Moral home for the aged to do some donation and was told by the Matron that the Leprosy Assocn were more in need, so I went with my husband and son to this association to make some donation. We met up with the Exec officer, Francis Tan and was told that these patients were shunned by the public and are avoided like a plague which could be due to lack of knowledge on Leprosy. He told me that some of these patients do go out like normal people but hardly have visitors and felt withdrawn & they
were so happy to see us and they kept waving & smiling. I can see that they needed the human touch more than anything else, so if any of you wishes to donate or pay a visit, here’s the address: 80 Buangkok View, Buangkok Green Medical Park, S’pore 534191. Rgds, Lisa
Hi Lisa
It wld be an eye-opener to all of us if we can visit this Home. Perhaps you can initiate n organise a visit. We will definitely support you.
Thanks Lisa.
What a coincidence.
My daughter and her group of friends (they are musicians and singers who perform at wedding or corporate gigs)went to visit the Leprosy Association, the Sunlove Abode for the Intellectually Infirmed,IMH and Ren Ci Hospital last Saturday. They did not have the funds to give Hong Baos because the numbers were too big. However, they engaged a Lion Dance troupe to perform for them for free. My daughter and her friends played the guitar and sang some songs. My maid and I went along to help distribute oranges.
Felt so good to see the smiles on their faces. Some of them sang and clap along. The appreciative looks and heartfelt thanks when they received their mandarins. Of course its also very heartbreaking to see those who are too ill to respond.
Caroline Gee
Hi Lisa
Yeap, agreed with TaiLor, care to be EO for the event. Raise your hand when ready. I will wait 4 u watever mayb, ho bo?
Hmm… if not Carly, oso boleh lor.. aimai? Dolly
Aiyoyo Dolly.
After the visit to the Homes, I had difficulty sleeping for many nights lor.
Some of them really so sorry state. Very sad.
EO mai lah. Helper ay sai lah.
Caroline Gee
Hi SHCians,
I shall, on behalf of the Cannossian Convent Alumni Exco, be organising:
A LUNCH treat for the residents of St Joseph”s Home in Jurong. It is for 100 residents although I know that there are more than this number. I got this “LUNCH” figure from the Home’s Office.
Also simple entertainment for them after their LUNCH before they retire for their afternoon-rest.
The task involves helping to feed some of the residents who need assistance.Game to do this?
Donations are also welcome.
Are there SHCians who would like to help me with this task?
Right now I am alone in this.
Thank you.
Geok Suan.
Hi Geok Suan @13
Suggest you start a new post for the lunch you want to organize and see if you can get more help.
I am not good at feeding anyone, young or old and cannot sing or dance to keep anyone amused but I’ll donate $500 to start the ball rolling.
Hi Geok Suan,
Nope, u r not alone la. I did promised to help out and still stay this way so count me in lor..
Tian Soo is rite, to get more support, it will b good to start a new post. Why not start a new post. If you hv problem write 1, I will help u to start 1.. ok… U have my email address rite… Cheers.. keep it up.. Dolly
Hello Tian Soo,
Thank you for your generosity. You may not be good at feeding anyone nor sing and dance to amuse the residents but by your generous donation of $500.00 to start the ball rolling, their LUNCH treat is on.
I had wanted to say thanks through the correct post as required by Terence but waited to collate all the necessary info which has taken sometime so decided to say thanks first thru this post.
FYI, Lee Patrick has kindly volunteered to assist me to put up the new Post specially for The Visit to St Joseph’s Home on 1st May. There’re always so many kind people in SHC.
Tian Soo, thanks once again.
Geok Suan
Hello Sam Goh,
Thank you for wanting to help so soon after becoming a member of the SHC.
I am sure that there will be more helpers coming forward asap when Lee Patrick (Song Juan) publishes the details for the Visit to the SJ Home on 1st May 09.
Pls look out for the Time and address etc on the new Post.
Geok Suan
sorry, Tian Soo use your post to reply to Geok Suan.
The post on St Joseph’s Home Lunch is up for SHC admin. to review before publishing.
I take this opportunity to thank you Tian Soo for your magnanimous generosity to donate $500/- cash to the charity Lunch on 1st May 2009.