Introduction
Human life is guided by principles, thoughts and considerations, which determine what activities, are right or wrong to undertake in any situation. The ability to reason and act out of a set of determined principles differentiates humans from animals. All activities conducted by humans, therefore find their basis in some ethic that makes them acceptable or not. Humanitarian effort finds its foundation in the willingness by other people to sacrifice some of their resources for the improvement of someone else’s life. The decision to participate in a humanitarian effort is voluntary and not guided by formal laws. Additionally, the choice of the effort to expend one’s resources towards is a voluntary decision guided by individual preferences and value for each cause they chose to participate. In making such choices, however, people often find guidance from discourses carried out in the past relating to the subject in determining the best cause to contribute towards, and one that will offer the best satisfaction. Such discourses include the golden rule, which states that one should do onto others what they would want done unto them. In relation to philanthropy, this would relate the situations of a person with the means to help, with the person in need. In a reversal of the roles, the person with the means to help should do as he/ she would want done unto them if they were in the opposite situation. By application of the golden rule, it is, therefore, paramount that anyone in a privileged position finds it their duty to assist those in disadvantaged situations. The essay on poverty by wattles brings the question of how much should a person contribute towards charity. Although it is an over-simplification, I would hold that one is obliged to contribute as much as they can, and as long as they fee3l they are contributing to a good cause; Wattles holds that one should contribute a sum close to the entirety of their earnings, after the deduction of basic amenities. While it is a good benchmark, it is seldom applicable. Wattles donates a fifth of his earnings to charity, which is not a reflection of his earnings minus expenses for basic amenities. Additionally, the determination of what are the basic requirements for an individual is prone to various interpretations. This essay seeks to explain the charity I would consider donating towards in case I happened to chance upon a $10,000 windfall.
Deciding on what charity to donate towards, for me is much a moral decision as it is a decision guided by preference and logical deduction. There are good causes, to which one can donate towards, the environment, saving animals, medicine, famine-relief, the list in exhaustible. I chose to help poor people incapable of meeting their basic needs such as proper feeding, housing and basic clothing. It is the right of every human being to achieve a life of some decency. While this right is espoused in many constitutions around the world, few countries, if any achieve the goal of citizens who can be considered to live a decent life. The right to life is protected in many all countries that adopt the universal bill of rights, but it is the concerted duty of the individual, and the ethical obligation of a person of means to preserve that right to life, towards achieving a dignified life for all. The choice that informed my decision to contributing to the cause for human life preservation, other causes in need of support arise out of the deliberate actions of human beings. The environment, for instance, is faced with numerous challenges such as melting glaciers, decreasing forest cover, radioactive contamination and many more. The cause for these challenges afflicting human beings is because of human activity. The attempt to stop or reverse these activities would succeed only from the willing cessation of the injurious activities to the environment. Animals also fall under this category, animal welfare is the subject of conscious human consideration, preservation efforts would always negate, if the human agents putting the animals at risk are not persuaded not to do so.
I chose to concentrate on charities that improve on the lives of human beings, in particular, the most vulnerable to factors beyond their control, the children. I found several charities with causes that impact on the welfare of children both indirectly and directly. The organizations I targeted for consideration include; save the children, Oxfam, UNICEF, CARE, and World vision.
UNICEF is concerned with the overall welfare of children, ranging from feeding the underfed children, promoting security in conflict areas for the welfare of the children, educating underprivileged children, promoting emergency aid to children and providing humanitarian services. According to the UNICEF website, they are actively involved in ensuring the welfare of children afflicted by various threats against their welfare around the world. Their involvement in the conflict, in Lebanon shows their commitment to ensuring child safety amongst all children despite the nature and origin of the threat facing them. Children fleeing conflict in Syria are facing a different crisis in Lebanon where the threat of malnutrition faces them. According to a report compiled by a UNICEF correspondent, Soha Bsat Boustani, http://www.unicef.org/media/media_72726.html , she reports on the fate several women and the different realities their children are facing away from home. UNICEF utilizes its global reach to raise awareness on issues such as the plight on the Syrian refugees and the impact the affected children suffer as a means of mobilizing resources towards alleviating their suffering.
Oxfam is another charitable cause towards which I would consider contributing. It deals with global alleviation of poverty and as such, is involved in activities aimed at reducing the poverty levels experienced by people around the world. Some of its activities include the setting up of infrastructure aiding in the creation of wealth such as irrigation systems and preservation of existing production resources. Additionally, they are involved in situations where there is the risk of deteriorating the livelihood of the people through crisis. Through an article reported in the Philippines’ information agency, Oxfam helped in the alleviation of suffering caused by typhoon Yolanda in the country. Th program initiated seeks to offer temporary assistance to the residents, before rehabilitating them back into their normal livelihoods for a sustainable way to earn income. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CEQQqQIoADAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.pia.gov.ph%2Findex.php%3Farticle%3D1231392861916&ei=34oPU4elJqOH4gSS-YEw&usg=AFQjCNF2loi8yg11dN_k6iHAwVsOLGMTyg&sig2=iQyHXCiWtQmoTFNqR07Ojw&bvm=bv.61965928,d.bGE
I would choose to donate my $10, 000 on UNHCR for the reason that their cause appeal to me more than Oxfam’s. While both organizations help individuals in desperate situations, a child is always vulnerable in comparison to an adult. The dedication by UNICEF to champion the issues affecting children, expressly, and exclusively, means that they afford the children a chance to change for a better future. The immediate well-being of the child is important in determining their presence in the achievement of future aspirations.
Works Cited
Korenromp, Eline L., John Miller, Richard E. Cibulskis, M. K. Cham, David Alnwick, and Christopher Dye. "Monitoring mosquito net coverage for malaria control in Africa: possession vs. use by children under 5 years." Tropical Medicine & International Health (2003): n. pag. Print.
Oxfam. "What we do." Oxfam GB. Oxfam.uk, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
""Peter Singer's Solution to World Poverty," New York Times Sunday Magazine." Brandeis Users' Home Pages. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
"Press centre report: Silent threat emerging among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon."UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.
