It seems there's a lot of people wanting to make a difference. Fantastic, I applaud all of you!

However, it makes me angry when I'm 'on the ground' in Asia, Africa etc that not much of the 'NGO' money gets through; there's too much being used in Europe by 'fat cats' slating it off to admin costs, wanting to make a trip etc not much gets through.

Even when it is in need it can go disastrously wrong! One case I can think of (many) is an Oxfam truck loaded with 10tonnes of rice for a village that needed it after a civil war. The truck was within 10km of the village and fell off the bridge, breaking the bridge & so cutting off the village from the outside world & further aid. It was eventually after 10months re-built by the villagers themselves who had suffered hunger & a lack of medical supplies; whilst the Oxfam truck & it's contents lay in the river below!

I've seen many orphanages. Many of the children aren't happy, unactive, not at school, not making progress, but yet they're supported by large western named organisations.

Personally I'm involved in an orphanage for war orphans (we like to call it a centre, take away the negativity both in French & English). They have a 'link' to Care Int'l but most of the work is done by people like myself that beg friends & family for material; they'd also like cash. I'm not in a position to give them cash, I know if they had it that it would be put to good use (building a new centre so they don't have to rent & be self-sustainable). I'm currently writing begging letters to various organisations to get help in buying a minibus for them to drive down or to have one donated.

My point being, those on here - instead of building websites for your trip & donating your hard raised cash to a big name, could you not find something/someone else that you feel confident in?

Maybe it's something the mods/founders of HUBB could set up - a thread of 'worthy' organisations to raise money for that get the cash/material directly! Certainly I know my 39 kids would appreciate it!

Thanks, end of rant

Kira

Kira - big names= big money- I understand what you are saying-
It was the reason that I personally delivered aid door to door between Kent (UK) and the two SOS Villages in Mopti and Sanankoroba in Mali.
I have learned that large charities want your money to deliver their plans in line with their strategies. Individual missions don't 'fit' their agendas.
You either give to them or do what I did and give life to these missions with contributions from others and self . It is a question of personal choice. Many people will not / cannot step out of their comfort/security zone so will donate to these large charities that do do some amazing work.

I take a great deal of joy from what I was told by the village 'Papa's'- that in the three years I delivered, not one child had died of malaria- Result!
There are 276 orphans living in 2 purpose built SOS villages where I delivered the loads by road.
The problem is always the same- these missions,without financial support, are not sustainable long -term by a single individual (unless your name is Mr Gates and the like!)
I have no web site but can be contacted - French is my first language.
Good on you Kira for doing what you are.

Merci Bert!

Can we persuade Grant et al to set up a sub thread on here. For those charities that we can be active with directly.

Even if HUBB'ers can't take things directly but can raise some cash via their website links.

My 'centre' is registered as a charity (via association) in France Enfance Meurtrie Sans Frontières , money could be raised by various websites by those travelling for a cause and funnelled to the charity that they see on here directly.

I have a 'cause' on Facebook for the same centre: Causes on Facebook | Enfance Meurtrie Sans Frontières

It is a minefield for those travelling to know who to donate money to; if they raise 1,000euros and donate it to a western 'X' organisation, how much can they guarantee goes to the actual recipients in need??? Not much! If it was on here, they'd get feedback!

Grant ... mods ... over to you!

Kira

Good idea if Grant gets on board - Hello Grant - are you reading this?

Kira- there will always be the cost element - fuel, tyres, sea crossings etc - the cargo must be proportional to the cost of transporting it there with all the risks that brings along.
Quick calculations show Abidjan to be some 700 miles south from Bamako and I know what it costs to get there and back having done it three times.
Still- with the right support - it is do-able

Comments/ Thoughts anyone??

where exactly are you? If close to our route I'll bring whatever you need ...

And if you have a way of donating, I'll give £20 now. And if everyone who comes to this thread does, well, we'll all live in a better world .....

__________________
Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

Ollie

If the rest of the world's population were as good as you we wouldn't have wars - thanks a million for the offer.

Haven't researched as to where you are? But I'm in southern France. I can offer a bed here on your way through & can fix you up in various W.African locations particularly Cote d'Ivoire!

Having just said all that, I've now seen you are off in a completely different direction!!! Ca la vie!

Will be in touch, need to check your links to see when/where you're off to!

Kira

Kira,I hear what you are saying,and my family and spent a long time researching how our money is used on the ground.Eventually we worked with a group in South Africa called gods golden acre.The funding they get is fairly substantial on the face of it(around a half million uk pounds).However when I did the maths,I could hardly believe how far they are able to stretch their resources.The stats - one orphanage with 100 kids/5 pre-schools/5000 kids in the community on various support programmes/95 staff(inc a handful of europeans), and 350 families on direct food aid costing around £30/family/month.When I say their are NO big salaries or fancy trimmings,you have to see it for youself,nothing goes to waste.But the tragedy is that to-day,very few Westerners take the time to see these things for themselves,so consequently it is left to glossy aid agencys to take what they can,and everyone goes on as misinformed and ignorant as usual.
However where big agencys score, is in having a lot of well informed/educated people with an organised infrastructure,who are more able to deal with a crisis on a large scale, that smaller operators could never hope to do - so who is right?