Are charities and other aid organizations doing more harm than good in Africa?
121927
Not if they carry through on the maintenance of their work.  Setting up technological equipment to maintain a water supply, for instance, is no use in a country where the cost of a spanner to maintain it is equal to a month's wages.  The charity named below doesn't do this; it educates people as well as giving them help.
45389
I think if there's an overwhelming plea from the people of that country for help, or in nations such as Sudan and Rwanda where there is overwhelming evidence of genocide, then yes. \n\nOtherwise no.
578529
the only way to deal with AIDS is information and education, if you can believe it, in parts of Africa there are men who believe having sex with a virgin will cure them of AIDS, until myths like this are put to rest AIDS will continue to be a scourge in Africa, as for poverty in Africa, keep in mind most African countries are basically agrarian societies, the cycle of warfare keeps people from pursuing their natural occupations, break the cycle of warfare and you solve poverty. these countries need stable governments. how you solve that i do not know
141945
American Private Giving Outpaces U.S. Government Aid, Report Says\n"Washington -- The U.S. private sector donates to international causes at a level nearly four times the amount spent by the U.S. government. Called the Index on Global Philanthropy, the report tallies $71 billion in international donations by U.S. private charities, religious organizations, universities, corporations, foundations, and immigrants sending money home for the year of 2004 (the latest year available).\n\n"That compares to $20 billion in government foreign aid for the same year.  The Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks the United States as the biggest donor of government foreign aid among developed countries in terms of total dollars given.  \n\n"In another measurement, OECD figures each country’s aid as a percentage of its gross national income, which puts the United States second-to- last -- with 0.17 percent of its GNI given as foreign aid."\n\nCOST OF IRAQ WAR TO DATE  $275,670,000,000. ($276 BILLION)\nONGOING MONTHLY COST OF IRAQ WAR  $7,000,000,000.($7BILLION)
17044
I know you stated that you don't want a religious org, but some of them are really amazing and do great work, without spreading the gospel, believe it or not.  IN fact, a lot of the sponsored children live in countries where Chrisitanity is illegal and can't be taught or practiced, so the organizations have to be very discreet or not teach it at all.  Organizations like Compassion International and Worlsd Vision do a lot of good within the communities and orphanages and can't share why they do what they do, other than from a "just being a good person" standpoint.  I encourage you to look at some of these, even if you don't believe their philosophy.  They really help in the areas they serve.
656960
Starvation and aids in Africa are two examples.  Much of the devastion could have been lessened by proper governmental action on the continent and in the UN.  There were  governments in southern Africa that refused to admit that AIDS was caused by a virus and was transmitted by unprotected sex.\n\nChernobyl.
171972
are you serious ? or you are just posting this to get a kick out of people's responses.\n\nIt is a known fact that out of all industrialized nations in the world, the US does the least to help the poor (in terms of their possibilities). There are many good things about the US, helping the poor ain't one of them !\n\nWhere exactly do you get your information ? Let me guess Fox News?
399691
Government run agencies are not always willing to help the needy. People who know how to scam the system are usually the first ones helped. Private organizations help those who are trying to do things the right way. People helping people is a better way.
584258
Hey hey hey...back the truck up pal. We can only do so much at once. And caring for our own impoverished isn't one of those things, Africa is a HUGE mess that the WORLD needs to gang up on and fix. You have Christians being slaughtered by Muslims. You have Ethnic cleansing between tribes and provinces. You have war lords with more $$ then god funding their own militias. You also have the Aids epidemic which is where it started from in the first place. And safe sex is NOT on the agenda. In fact you have infected men raping virgins with the superstition that by doing so you can rid yourself of the virus. Yeah....HUGE problem down there. And if we address one, we have to address them all. With the way our current monkey in office is spending our money, we won't be able to borrow $5 in 5 years.
582602
yes! look at the starving children in africa. they're experiencing a forced anorexia
521548
People need to stop killing in the name of their god. Not only is war ravaging Africa but HIV/AIDS as well. The only way to stop it is to pray that the hearts of men change.
538133
The UN has not succeeded in ANY of the the programs or points it was started for or tried to do in the whole time it has existed.  The only UN program that has done any good at all is UNICEF and that is because people donate to it.
602394
I would not think would be a correct generality.  Africa has the worse cases of widespread Aids in the world.  \n\nhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/africa/2000/aids_in_africa/default.stm\n\nhttp://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1201/p06s01-woaf.html\n\nhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4052531.stm\n\nMost of this is contributed to sexual relations outside of marriage and with many partners.   (And that does not sound like "good moral values, to me)\n\nI think you can find kind, moral, polite, responsible men in any country and within any race... you just have to demand it and not take less.
358452
In most cases I would argue that the people in other contries are far worse off than then even the sick and homeless in developed nations but in the USA I would argue otherwise.  The reckless disragard for human needs displayed by big businesses and the government alike are creating a growing underclass of starving unemployed people which soon will eclipse those in other nations.\nDetroit has a statisticaly higher infant mortality rate than Ethiopia - how can this be right?\nThe USA is stupidly wealthy - waste and excess in levels beyond the contemplation of foriegn tyrants but almost all the wealth is concentrated in an emmerging super wealthy class of people while more and more normal people are disguarded as businesses move abroad for cheaper materials and cheap "slave" labour.\nAmericans need to unite as a people against the buinesses and corporations which are expanding the economy at the expense of the citezens.\n\n“the country was founded on the principle that the primary role of government is to protect property from the majority, and so it remains" - Noam Chomsky\n\nLet Oceania, Europe, Japan, and other nations help Africa and Asia - America has to helpm it's own people before they end up in the same state!
101413
Can we say Africa? And I dont think that the UN gave any money to help Rwanda after their civil war against the Tutsis or Hutus. I could be wrong about that one.
40576
Tribalism is the root of Africa's problems.  Similar to Hitler's genocide, but no one cares.  Africa offers some natural resources.\n\nMuslim extremists are now expanding in Africa.  Sudan is a prime example.  The Arab Sudanese government is trying to destroy the native African Sudanese.\n\nEven when the West help them, there is corruption.  They will take the donated grains and sell it to the poor.  Somalia is basically a country run by gangs with big guns.  Warlords rules Somalia.  Each having its own rules and killing whomever they want.\n\nWith such instability and corrupted government, insurgencies start.  This combination will limit investments from companies and make the situation worse.  No food, no economy, but a lot of guns.  Millions are dying and their own people/government do not care.
580747
I haven't heard of anyone having any success in Africa. There is too much war and corruption in the places where help is needed most.  \nYou cannot force govts to cancel debts.  If someone represented that  to you, then you may have been hustled.\nI HAVE seen Isaiah Washington's pic on YA and him asking how to help Malaria victims in Africa.